"Muzzy, old man," cried Mr. Sheldrake heartily; but he checked himself suddenly, and opening the door, stepped quietly into the passage, and listened to the voices in Lizzie's room. Returning with a beaming face, he repeated, "Muzzy, old man! the time has come for you to turn over a new leaf." "I am quite ready, sir," acquiesced Muzzy, without the slightest consciousness of his patron's meaning. CHAPTER XX. AN UNEXPECTED PROPOSITION. But although the tone of Muzzy's acquiescence in the turning over of a new leaf was almost abject, his manner denoted inward disturbance. His restless eyes became more restless in the endeavour to look steadily into Mr. Sheldrake's face, and his lips twitched nervously as he passed the back of his hand across them with the air of one who is thirsty. The sudden interest which Mr. Sheldrake exhibited in Lizzie and her lover was evidently distressing to him, and he waited anxiously for an explanation. Mr. Sheldrake did not notice these symptoms; he was too much engrossed in his own musing, the satisfactory nature of which was evidenced by the bright look he turned upon Muzzy. "This girl, this Lizzie," he said, following the current of his thoughts, "who has no parents----she has none?" "None, sir." "Must find it dull work living up in a garret by herself." "Lizzie is happy enough," said Muzzy; "I have never heard her complain; she is a good girl, sir." "Doubtless; but nevertheless would jump at the opportunity of living in a pretty detached house in the suburbs, say in St. John's-wood or Kensington, or better still near to the river--a pretty house, cosily furnished, with a garden round it. How would that suit you, old man?" Muzzy stared in amazement at his employer, who continued gaily, "Respectably dressed, living a quiet respectable life, as a widower, say with an only child, a daughter----" "Sir!" exclaimed Muzzy, rising in his agitation. "Steady, old man! A daughter ready-made, Lizzie the charmer--what can be better? If you object to father and daughter say uncle and niece; it will serve the purpose equally well. Fifty neat stories can be made up to suit the case, if there is need of explanation. Of course it will not be kept secret that the man who enables you to do this is Mr. David Sheldrake--that he is your best friend--and that in your declining days (excuse me for referring to the unpleasant fact) you owe it to him that you are enabled to live in ease and comfort." "I don't understand, sir." "It isn't so very difficult, either. I want a place where I can come for an hour's quiet now and again, and where my friends would be welcome. You have served me well up to this point----" "I have tried to do so, sir," murmured Muzzy.