‘Next month, my lass, and you’d better get your best gowns ready, for there’s to be a power of young gentlemen with them and no mistake. I’ve just been talking to your mother here about her rooms. I wish she could let us have the use of four, just for a month or two, for where I’m to put them all I don’t know.’ ‘But it is impossible, Mrs Hody, or I’d willingly oblige you. But you know I couldn’t do it even before my Nell came home, and it is more impossible than ever now.’ ‘I could lend you the furniture,’ said the housekeeper, coaxingly, ‘if that’s the obstacle. We’ve got enough stowed away at the top of the house to furnish five or six rooms. We make up sixteen beds ourselves, but they’ll be all full. Whatever they can want with such a heap of guests beats me. I’ve been up the village this afternoon to see if the Wilkins’ or Turners’ girls were at home, for we shall want extra help, but, like my luck, they’re all in service.’ ‘Perhaps our Nell here might be of use to you, Mrs Hody,’ interposed Mrs Llewellyn. ‘She’s been used to service, you know, and I guess she’s a good hand at it. What say, Nell? Will ye go up to the Hall and help Mrs Hody when the folks arrive?’ Nell grew scarlet. What if some of the ‘folks’ should have seen her in London and recognise her! ‘Oh, no, mother,’ she exclaimed, shrinking back, ‘I couldn’t! I don’t know enough about it. I’ve never been in any place, remember, except in the nursery and then as housekeeper. I have never done any housework or cooking.’ Mrs Hody looked at the girl’s beautiful face suspiciously. ‘You’re very young for a housekeeper, especially since you can have had no previous experience. Who engaged you for the place?’ ‘Lord Ilfracombe,’ replied Nell timidly--she always became timid when the earl was alluded to. ‘And what aged man was he, my dear?’ continued Mrs Hody. ‘Oh, I don’t know--somewhere between twenty and thirty, I suppose; quite young, of course, but I hardly ever saw him. He was often absent from home.’ ‘And how did the servants like taking their orders from such a lass as you? Didn’t they give you trouble sometimes?’ went on her inquisitor. ‘Oh, no, they were all old servants. They knew their duty,’ said Nell confusedly, and then she added, to hide her embarrassment,--‘But do tell me, Mrs Hody, the names of some of the visitors you are expecting. It is such an event to see strangers in Usk. Are there lords and ladies amongst them?’