“A Spanish lady!” Miss Loach dropped the poker she was holding, with a clatter, and frowned so deeply that her black eyebrows met over her high nose.  “And her name?”

“Senora Gredos, ma’am!”

The eyes of the old maid glittered, and she made a clutch at her breast as though the reply had taken away her breath.  “Why did you leave?” she asked, regaining her composure.

Susan looked uncomfortable.  “I thought the house was too gay, ma’am.”

“What do you mean by that?  Can any house be too gay for a girl of your years?”

“I have been well brought up, ma’am,” said Susan quietly; “and my religious principles are dear to me.  Although she is an invalid, ma’am, Senora Gredos was very gay.  Many people came to her house and played cards, even on Sunday,” added Susan under her breath.  But low as she spoke, Miss Loach heard.

“I have whist parties here frequently,” she said drily; “nearly every evening four friends of mine call to play.  Have you any objection to enter my service on that account?”

“Oh, no, ma’am.  I don’t mind a game of cards.  I play ‘Patience’ myself when alone.  I mean gambling—­there was a lot of money lost and won at Senora Gredos’ house!”

“Yet she is an invalid I think you said?”

“Yes, ma’am.  She was a dancer, I believe, and fell in some way, so as to break her leg or hurt her back.  She has been lying on a couch for two years unable to move.  Yet she has herself wheeled into the drawing-room and watches the gentlemen play cards.  She plays herself sometimes!”

Miss Loach again directed one of her piercing looks at the pale face of the girl.  “You are too inquisitive and too talkative,” she said suddenly, “therefore you won’t suit me.  Good-day.”

Susan was quite taken aback.  “Oh, ma’am, I hope I’ve said nothing wrong.  I only answered your questions.”

“You evidently take note of everything you see, and talk about it.”

“No, ma’am,” said the girl earnestly.  “I really hold my tongue.”

“When it suits you,” retorted Miss Loach.  “Hold it now and let me think!”

While Miss Loach, staring frowningly into the fire, debated inwardly as to the advisability of engaging the girl, Susan looked timidly round the room.  Curiously enough, it was placed in the basement of the cottage, and was therefore below the level of the garden.  Two fairly large windows looked on to the area, which had been roofed with glass and turned into a conservatory.  Here appeared scarlet geraniums and other bright-hued flowers, interspersed with ferns and delicate grasses.  Owing to the position of the room and the presence of the glass roof, only a subdued light filtered into the place, but, as the day was brilliant with sunshine, the apartment was fairly well illuminated.  Still, on a cloudy day, Susan could imagine how dull it would be.  In winter time the room must be perfectly dark.