“Not at all a bad notion,” Mrs. Rook declared. “Here’s a man who can make himself useful, for once. Let’s go into the garden.” She rose, and led the way to the door. Alban seized the opportunity of whispering to Emily. “Did you notice the empty decanter, when we first came in? That horrid woman is drunk.” Emily pointed significantly to the locket. “Don’t let her go. The garden will distract her attention: keep her near me here.” Mrs. Rook gayly opened the door. “Take me to the flower-beds,” she said. “I believe in nothing--but I adore flowers.” Mrs. Rook waited at the door, with her eye on Emily. “What do _you_ say, miss?” “I think we shall be more comfortable if we stay where we are.” “Whatever pleases you, my dear, pleases me.” With this reply, the compliant housekeeper--as amiable as ever on the surface--returned to her chair. Would she notice the locket as she sat down? Emily turned toward the window, so as to let the light fall on the diamonds. No: Mrs. Rook was absorbed, at the moment, in her own reflections. Miss Emily, having prevented her from seeing the garden, she was maliciously bent on disappointing Miss Emily in return. Sir Jervis’s secretary (being young) took a hopeful view no doubt of her future prospects. Mrs. Rook decided on darkening that view in a mischievously-suggestive manner, peculiar to herself. “You will naturally feel some curiosity about your new home,” she began, “and I haven’t said a word about it yet. How very thoughtless of me! Inside and out, dear Miss Emily, our house is just a little dull. I say _our_ house, and why not--when the management of it is all thrown on me. We are built of stone; and we are much too long, and are not half high enough. Our situation is on the coldest side of the county, away in the west. We are close to the Cheviot hills; and if you fancy there is anything to see when you look out of window, except sheep, you will find yourself woefully mistaken. As for walks, if you go out on one side of the house you may, or may not, be gored by cattle. On the other side, if the darkness overtakes you, you may, or may not, tumble down a deserted lead mine. But the company, inside the house, makes amends for it all,” Mrs. Rook proceeded, enjoying the expression of dismay which was beginning to show itself on Emily’s face. “Plenty of excitement for you, my dear, in our small family. Sir Jervis will introduce you to plaster casts of hideous Indian idols; he will keep you writing for him, without mercy, from morning to night; and when he does let you go, old Miss Redwood will find she can’t sleep, and will send for the pretty young lady-secretary to read to her. My husband I am sure you will like. He is a respectable man, and bears the highest character. Next to the idols, he’s the most hideous object in the house. If you are good enough to encourage him, I don’t say that he won’t amuse you; he will tell you, for instance, he never in his life hated any human being as he hates his wife.