"H'm, h'm!" he said to himself. "Æschylus, Sophocles, Euripides,--not so bad, by Jove! It must have been a chance shot her sticking them side by side. H'm, h'm,--Horace, Catullus, Pindar,--couldn't have done it better myself." He came down with great agility and faced me, frowning. "Now, look here," he said gruffly, "are you a classical housemaid?" [Illustration: "NOW, LOOK HERE," HE SAID GRUFFLY, "ARE YOU A CLASSICAL HOUSEMAID?"] His tone was so aggressive that Paudeen got up from his rug and came towards us, growling suspiciously. "Be quiet, Paudeen," said I; and then answering my interlocutor: "No, sir, I'm not classical; I've only gone by what I've heard." "Where did my housekeeper pick you up? Do you belong to the neighbourhood?" "Yes, sir." I was beginning to wonder with some alarm how I should own up to this very irascible-looking old gentleman, when Mary O'Connor came in. She held up her hands, standing behind him, in amazement. Then she came forward. "Shall I bring your tea here, sir?" she asked, evidently under the impression that there was nothing to be explained. "I see Miss Hilda's been tellin' you that I allowed her to read among your books. I told her, sir, that I knew you'd make her kindly welcome." "Miss what?" he thundered, so suddenly, that Mary jumped. "Why, Miss Hilda Brandon, sir," she answered stiffly. "Miss Brandon, of Brandon. Miss Esther lives with Lady O'Brien,--an' a kinder an' sweeter young lady than Miss Hilda--There,--she's give herself no end of trouble over them books." The old fellow whisked off his skull-cap and made me a somewhat chilly bow. "You've been laughing at me, young lady," he said. "Oh no, indeed, General MacNeill!" I said; "it was you that took me for a housemaid, and I was just making up my mind to undeceive you." "But you called me sir." "Only homage from a young woman to a famous soldier," said I cheerfully. "Very well," he said, his grimness relaxing. "Punishment--you'll have to pour out my tea, and afterwards explain to me what in thunder set you to doing my servants' work." "You said before that no servant could do it." "You are right. Well, my librarian's work, if I had such a functionary?" "Love of it, General." "And you'll give it up now?" "I suppose so," said I regretfully. "I don't see why. If you loved it before, you love it now, and I sha'n't interfere with you. A battered old hulk like me in the house needn't make much difference. There's plenty for me to do getting other things into order without my hindering you. You'll come, hey?" "Yes, I think I shall," said I. "That's right. And now pour out the tea." I grew quite to like General MacNeill that very first day, he was so kind and gentle in looking after my wants, and then he took my little Paudeen on his knee and fed him with dainty little bits, so that I began to suspect an unusually kind heart under the gruff exterior.