“Jackson,” said cook, now stouter and apparently shorter than ever, “would be down directly.” Would Erb let her cut for him a sandwich or a snack of—well, Erb could please himself, cook’s own motto in the matter of feeding was, “Little and often,” but it had never been her way to force her opinions on other people, in which particular her motto was “Interfere with nobody, and nobody will interfere with you.” Cook had many other aphorisms to impart, and seemed a little hurt when Alice came into the kitchen and claimed her brother with a kiss that had about it unexpected affection. “I’ve been worrying about you day and night,” declared Alice. “I never thought anything would upset me so much.” “Wonder you don’t ask after Jessie,” interrupted cook. “Jessie who?” demanded Erb. “Just Jessie! Thought you was rather struck on her. She’s with a family travelling abroad now. Tall girl with eyes.” “I’d forgotten all about her.” “Ah!” sighed the cook. “That’s a man all over. It’s the old saying over again—” “And I told Lady Frances,” continued Alice, leaving cook to mutter to a large joint of beef turning before a desperately fierce fire, “and you’re to see her, Erb, directly after dinner.” “What’s in the wind?” “That’s more than I can tell you. But I’m very glad you’ve cut your connection with all those common working men.” “They’ve cut their connection with me,” said Erb. “Comes to the same thing,” said his sister, equably. “Last time you was here, Mr. Barnes,” said cook, over her shoulder from the fire, “you came as a friend of the family. Funny world isn’t it? Upstairs one day, downstairs the next.” “You must be short of money, Erb,” whispered his sister, in an undertone. “I’ve got quite a tidy bit put away in the savings bank. If ten or twenty pounds—” “Upon my word,” cried Erb, “it’s worth while having a touch of misfortune now and again, if it’s only just to find how much kindness there is about. But I shall find my feet somehow, Alice. Don’t you worry about me.” “Can’t help doing so.” “You might do what you can for Louisa, though. If it hadn’t been for—for a friend of mine, I don’t know where she’d have been.” “We’ve never quite got on together in the past,” said Alice regretfully. “The difference in our heights seem to have led to other differences. But I’ll see that it all dries straight. She’ll pull through, of course.” “I think she’ll just pull through,” said Erb, thoughtfully, “and that’s about all. Doctor says that if there was unlimited money about she’d be herself in a few months. But there you are, you see! Just when it’s wanted particularly, it goes and hides.” Mr. Danks knocked and came in with a reverential air that differed from the one with which he had greeted Erb in the area. Lady Frances’ compliments, and she would be pleased to see Mr. Barnes in the drawing-room now. “Let me put your tie straight,” said Alice.