"Then I will see what I can do," said he rising. "About what?" said Elizabeth. "I will tell you if I succeed." Mr. Landholm walked down stairs into Mrs. Nettley's sanctum, where the good lady was diligently at work in kitchen affairs. "Mrs. Nettley, will you leave your brother and me to keep things together here, and go into the country with this bereaved friend of mine?" Mrs. Nettley stood still with her hands in the dough of her bread and looked at the maker of this extraordinary proposition. "Into the country, Mr. Landholm! -- When?" "Perhaps this afternoon -- in two or three hours." "Dear Mr. Landholm! --" "Dear Mrs. Nettley." "But it's impossible." "Is it?" "Why -- What does she want me for, Mr. Landholm?" "She is alone, and without friends at hand. She wishes to leave the city and take refuge in her own house in the country, but it is uninhabited except by servants. She does not know of my application to you, which I make believing it to be a case of charity." Mrs. Nettley began to knead her dough with a haste and vigour which told of other matters on hand. "Will _you_ go, Mr. Landholm?" "Certainly -- to see you safe there -- and then I will come back and take care of Mr. Inchbald." "How far is it, sir?" "So far as my old home, which Miss Haye has bought." "What, Wut -- that place of yours?" said Mrs. Nettley. "Yes," Winthrop said gravely. "And how long shall I be wanted, Mr. Landholm?" "I do not know, Mrs. Nettley." Mrs. Nettley hastily cut her dough into loaves and threw it into the pans. "You are going, Mrs. Nettley?" "Why sir -- in two hours, you say?" "Perhaps in so little as that -- I am going to see." "But Mr. Landholm," said the good lady, facing round upon him after bestowing her pans in their place, and looking somewhat concerned, -- "Mr. Landholm, do you think she will like me? -- Miss Haye?" Winthrop smiled a little. "I think she will be very thankful to you, Mrs. Nettley -- I can answer no further." "I suppose it's right to risk that," Mrs. Nettley concluded. "I'll do what you say, Mr. Landholm." Without more words Mr. Landholm went out and left the house. "Are Miss Haye's things all ready?" asked Mrs. Nettley of Clam, while she nervously untied her apron. "All's ready that _he_ has to do with," Clam answered a little curtly. "But has he to do with your mistress's things?" "He has to do with everything, just now," said Clam. "I wish the now'd last for ever!" "How can we go to-night? -- the boats and the stages and all don't set off so late." "Boats don't stop near Wutsey Qutsey," said Clam. Mrs. Nettley went off to make her own preparations. When Mr. Landholm came again, after an interval of some length, he came with a carriage. "Are you ready, Mrs. Nettley?" he said looking into that lady's quarters. "In a little bit, Mr. Landholm! --" Whereupon he went up-stairs.