“‘I had no idea there was so much plate in the house,’ he said. ‘It quite frightens me, and I won’t take the responsibility of living in the same place with it. I have heard of a place in London that I think will suit me, and I’d like to go.’” “Well, let him go,” said Nance. “To be sure, ma’am. Foolish lad, to leave a first-class place of this sort because he has got a bit of a scare. What has the plate to do with him?” Nance was silent. “The inconvenience, too,” continued Mrs. Ferguson, knitting her brows, and speaking with a touch of annoyance; “and just when Vickers had taken the trouble to train him in. This will put too much work on Hamley, the under-footman, and he don’t know his work as well as George. If my master should come back unexpectedly, as he always does, we’ll not have the place in the apple-pie order that I should like it to be in. I shall, of course, look out for another servant immediately.” “George must go,” said Nance. “There is no use in keeping an unwilling or frightened servant in the place.” “Very well, ma’am, of course you are right. I’ll send off a note by the next post to the registry office in London, where I generally apply for servants.” “No, don’t do that,” answered Nance. “It is strange that you should have spoken to me about George now, for it so happens that I heard only a few moments ago of an excellent footman. I will write about him myself at once. When does George want to leave?” “Really, madam, he is quite unreasonable!”—the housekeeper laughed as she spoke. “He says the sight of the plate has fairly shaken his nerves, and he knows he’ll fancy burglars are breaking into the house every night from this moment forward. I never saw a sensible lad in such a taking. He wants to forfeit his month’s wages and get off as soon as possible.” “Let him go,” answered Mrs. Rowton; “but pay him his wages, of course. The new footman can arrive to-morrow or the next day at latest—now I’ll come with you to see the new safe.” The two women went into the butler’s pantry, where the men from London were busy adjusting one of Clever’s patent safes. Nancy looked into it with curiosity. The plate was lying about in all directions. It made a dazzling and splendid show—silver trays, baskets, candelabra, table ornaments of every description, coffee-pots, tea-pots, silver jugs, and valuable silver hunting cups were lying on the shelves, and even on the floor. “What a quantity!” exclaimed the young mistress of Rowton Heights. “Will the safe hold all these?” she asked, turning to one of the London workmen. “Oh! yes, madam,” was the reply, “it is one of our very largest. Yes,” he added, glancing at the silver which lay shining all about him; “there is scarcely a country house that holds such treasure as this—to say nothing,” he added, lowering his voice, “of the gold-plated articles and the jewel case.”