The Secret Passage | Page 4

BAY,

XIV. MRS. OCTAGON EXPLAINS
XV. A DANGEROUS ADMISSION
XVI. JULIET'S STORY
XVII. JULIET'S STORY CONTINUED
XVIII. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS
XIX. SUSAN'S DISCOVERY
XX. BASIL
XXI. AN EXPERIMENT
XXII. THE SECRET ENTRANCE
XXIII. A SCAMP'S HISTORY
XXIV. REVENGE
XXV. NEMESIS
XXVI. CUTHBERT'S ENEMY

THE SECRET PASSAGE
CHAPTER I
THE COTTAGE
"What IS your name?"
"Susan Grant, Miss Loach."
"Call me ma'am. I am Miss Loach only to my equals. Your age?"

"Twenty-five, ma'am."
"Do you know your work as parlor-maid thoroughly?"
"Yes, ma'am. I was two years in one place and six months in another,
ma'am. Here are my characters from both places, ma'am."
As the girl spoke she laid two papers before the sharp old lady who
questioned her. But Miss Loach did not look at them immediately. She
examined the applicant with such close attention that a faint color
tinted the girl's cheeks and she dropped her eyes. But, in her turn, by
stealthy glances, Susan Grant tactfully managed to acquaint herself
with the looks of her possible mistress. The thoughts of each woman
ran as follows, --
Miss Loach to herself. "Humph! Plain-looking, sallow skin, rather fine
eyes and a slack mouth. Not badly dressed for a servant, and displays
some taste. She might turn my old dresses at a pinch. Sad expression,
as though she had something on her mind. Honest-looking, but I think a
trifle inquisitive, seeing how she examined the room and is stealing
glances at me. Talks sufficiently, but in a low voice. Fairly intelligent,
but not too much so. Might be secretive. Humph!"
The thoughts of Susan Grant. "Handsome old lady, probably nearly
sixty. Funny dress for ten o'clock in the morning. She must be rich, to
wear purple silk and old lace and lovely rings at this hour. A hard
mouth, thin nose, very white hair and very black eyebrows. Got a
temper I should say, and is likely to prove an exacting mistress. But I
want a quiet home, and the salary is good. I'll try it, if she'll take me."
Had either mistress or maid known of each other's thoughts, a
conclusion to do business might not have been arrived at. As it was,
Miss Loach, after a few more questions, appeared satisfied. All the time
she kept a pair of very black eyes piercingly fixed on the girl's face, as
though she would read her very soul. But Susan had nothing to conceal,
so far as Miss Loach could gather, so in the end she resolved to engage
her.

"I think you'll do," she said nodding, and poking up the fire, with a
shiver, although the month was June. "The situation is a quiet one. I
hope you have no followers."
"No, ma'am," said Susan and flushed crimson.
"Ha!" thought Miss Loach, "she has been in love -- jilted probably. All
the better, as she won't bring any young men about my quiet house."
"Will you not read my characters, ma'am?"
Miss Loach pushed the two papers towards the applicant. "I judge for
myself," said she calmly. "Most characters I read, are full of lies. Your
looks are enough for me. Where were you last?"
"With a Spanish lady, ma'am!"
"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.