He was seated, as was his wont, one morning in his library, turning over his letters, and thoughtfully brooding over his wrongs. It was cruel, he said, that he, rich, powerful, and well endowed by nature, should suffer in this way. But he could wait; and he turned to think of what he should do to drive away the ennui which oppressed him. Suddenly a thought came, and ringing sharply, the summons was answered by a footman. "Send Gurdon here," said the baronet; and then, adopting his most magisterial air, he sat waiting the coming of the butler, upon whom the thunders of his wrath were about to descend. Mr Gurdon, rather red of nose and pasty of face, soon appeared, wearing on the whole rather a limp expression. But John Gurdon had not improved in appearance; prosperity had not agreed with him. He said that it was his digestion; but Jane Barker--Mrs Barker now, my lady's maid--shook her head at him and sighed, as she thought of the smart young fellow who used to come courting her at the Rectory, laughingly telling her that he'd caught the complaint of his master. "I think, Gurdon," said Sir Murray, "that this is the third time that I have sent for you into the library." "Yes--yes, Sir Murray," said Gurdon, with a cough behind his hand. "It is the last time, then. But for your being an old servant, and son of an old tenant of my late father, I should discharge you at once!" "Oh, for Heaven's sake, don't, Sir Murray," said the man piteously. "It shall never occur again; it shan't, indeed!" "You had been drinking again, last night!" "Only the least drop, Sir Murray--the least drop. I was a little out of order yesterday." "And you were not fit to come before her ladyship, in the drawing-room?" "Perhaps not quite, Sir Murray--not quite; but--but--" "And mind this is the last time. No servant of mine shall be a disgrace to my establishment." "I humbly beg your pardon, Sir Murray, I do, indeed; and it shall never occur again, it shan't, indeed. I know your ways, Sir Murray, and I should die, if you was to turn me off. Please look over it this once." "I have looked over it, Gurdon, or I should have given you your wages when you entered the room. Now go and ask her ladyship if she can see me for a few minutes." "Her ladyship isn't in, Sir Murray." "Not in?" "No, Sir Murray; I wanted to see her about the blue-room chandelier, and went up, but she was not there; and Barker said, sir, she had just put on her things and gone out." "Did she order the pony-carriage?" "No, Sir Murray; her ladyship often goes out walking."