There was a crash in the china-closet. Mrs. Kinloch went to the door, and leading out Lucy Ransom, the maid, by the ear, exclaimed, "You hussy, what were you there for? I'll teach you to be listening about in closets," (giving the ear a fresh tweak,) "you eavesdropper!" "Quit!" cried Lucy. "I didn't mean to listen. I was there rubbin' the silver 'fore you come. Then I didn't wanter come out, for I was afeard." "What made the smash, then?" demanded Mrs. Kinloch. "I was settin' things on the top shelf, and the chair tipped over." "Don't make it worse by fibbing! If that was so, how came the chair to tip the way it did? You were trying to peep over the door. Go to the kitchen!" Lucy went out with fallen plumes. Mr. Clamp took his hat to go also. "Don't go till I get you the notes," said Mrs. Kinloch. As she brought them, he said, "I will send these by the next mail, with instructions to collect." While his hand was on the latch, she spoke again:-- "Mr. Clamp, did you ever look over the deed of the land we own about the dam where the mill stands?" "No, ma'am, I have never seen it." "I wish you would have the land surveyed according to this title," she said. "Quite privately, you know. Just have the line run, and let me know about it. Perhaps it will be as well to send over to Riverbank and get Gunter to do it; he will keep quiet about it." Mr. Clamp stood still a moment. Here was a woman whom he was expecting to lead like a child, but who on the other hand had fairly bridled and saddled _him_, so that he was driven he knew not whither. "Why do you propose this, may I ask, Mrs. Kinloch?" "Oh, I have heard," she replied, carelessly, "that there was some error in the surveys. Mr. Kinloch often talked of having it corrected, but, like most men, put it off. Now, as we may sell the property, we shall want to know what we have got." "Certainly, Mrs. Kinloch, I will follow your prudent suggestions,"--adding to himself, as he walked away, "I shall have to be tolerably shrewd to get ahead of that woman. I wonder what she is driving at." CHAPTER IV.