“Yis,” added Mike. “Sure it was the very same wid Mister Longman himself when he was gitting nigh onto the ould farrum where he left his mother. It is curious.” “You see, if I only knowed she were alive and well,” said Dandy apologetically. “Oh, you may be sure of that,” cheerfully exclaimed Ran, “but I don’t think she is at the rectory.” “Why don’t you then, sir?” inquired Dandy. “Because if she had been Longman would have seen her and told her about you, and she would certainly have run over last night or early this morning to see you.” “So she would! So she would! And yet I dunno—I dunno! Even darters in these days ain’t none too dutiful to feythers, let alone nieces to uncles, ’specially when they’ve been parted twenty years,” said Dandy, shaking his bald head. “I don’t think she is at the rectory, or, under the circumstances, she would have run over here to see you,” said Ran. “I dunno! I dunno!” “It is most likely she is married and away.” “Or dead and buried, poor wench,” sighed Dandy. “Come, come, don’t be so downhearted. Longman will be here soon. He promised to come early this morning, and no doubt he will bring good news of your niece. Now here is Judy, and we will go in to our breakfast,” concluded Ran. Judy, stepping from the bottom stair to the hall floor, greeted Will Walling, Mike and Dandy with a cordial good-morning and led the way to the breakfast room. It was just under the bedchamber Judy had left, and had the same outlook from windows on the east and north of sunny glades, of burnished dry grass and shady groves of Scotch firs. The table was laid for five, and the old butler was in attendance; not that His Importance, Mr. Basset, the butler, ever waited at any other meal except dinner, and then only at the sideboard; but on this particular occasion of the first breakfast of the bridal pair at Haymore he thought proper to volunteer his attendance in their honor. The consequence was that Mike, Dandy and even Judy were almost afraid to speak, lest they should expose their ignorance of high life to this imposing personage. The five sat down to table under the cloud of the butler’s greatness. But soon the fragrant Mocha, the luscious waffles and the savory venison steaks and other appetizing edibles combined to dispel the gloom and enliven their spirits. After breakfast Judy sent for the housekeeper, and claimed her promise to show them through the building. Mrs. Basset was only too willing to oblige. The five friends, led by their conductress, went first up the grand staircase that led from the lower to the upper halls on every floor to the top of the house. “We had better go to the top first, ma’am, while we are fresh, else we might find the stairs hard to climb,” said Mrs. Basset. And Judy, as she knew that the old woman spoke chiefly in the interests of her own infirmities, answered promptly: “You know best, Mrs. Basset. Suit yourself, and you will suit us.”