And at this question a curious thing happened. The butler and Reed answered simultaneously. Only, the butler said "Jane," and Reed, with equal conviction, said "Ellen." Ignoring this seeming contradiction, the cook fixed her dove-like glance on Mrs. Falkener and answered: "My name is Jane-Ellen, ma'am." It was impossible for even as conscientious a housekeeper as Mrs. Falkener to be really severe with so gentle a creature, but she contrived to say, with a certain sternness: "I should like to see your references, Jane-Ellen." "Oh, I'm sure that will be all right, Mrs. Falkener," said Crane hastily. He had never removed his eyes from the face of his future cook. But Jane-Ellen, with soft gestures of those ridiculous hands, was already unfolding a paper, and now handed it to Mrs. Falkener. That lady took it and held it off at arm's length while she read it. "And who," she asked, turning to Reed, "is this Claudia Revelly? Mrs. Revelly, I suppose?" "Why, no," answered Reed. "No, as I told you, Mrs. Revelly is in Madeira with her husband. This is one of the Miss Revellys." "Humph," replied Mrs. Falkener. "It is a flattering reference, but in my time the word 'recommend' was spelled with only one 'c.'" The cook colored slightly and flashed a glance that might have been interpreted as reproachful at Reed, who said hastily: "Ah, yes, quite so. You know--the fact is--our Southern aristocracy--the Revellys are among our very--However, there can be no question whatever about Jane-Ellen's ability. You will, I can assure you from personal experience, be satisfied with her cooking. Mrs. Crosslett-Billington--" "Humph!" said Mrs. Falkener again, as one who does not mean to commit herself. "We shall see. Let the housemaid come a little forward." At this a young woman advanced; she bore a certain resemblance of feature to the butler, but entirely lacked his competent alertness. "This young woman looks to me sullen," Mrs. Falkener observed to Crane, hardly modulating her clear, dry tone of voice. Crane betrayed his embarrassment. He wished now that he had not invited his elderly friend's coöperation. "Oh," he said, "I'm sure it will be all right. It must be a trifle annoying to be looked over like this." "The best way to settle this sort of thing is at the start," replied Mrs. Falkener, and turning to the housemaid, she asked her her name. "Lily," replied the young woman, in a deep voice of annoyance. "Lily," said Mrs. Falkener, as if this were a most unsuitable name for a housemaid, and she looked up at Crane to confirm her opinion, but he was again looking at the cook and did not notice her. "Well, Lily," continued the elder lady, as if she made a distinct concession in making use of such a name at all in addressing a servant, "do you or do you not want to take this place? There is, I suppose, nothing to compel you to take it if you do not want. But now is the time to say so."