"I do hate governesses!" Kate was wont to observe to her friends in the kitchen. "I can do with the airs and graces of real ladies--they seem natural--but I cannot endure governesses; they always seem to me neither the one thing nor the other." Then a sharp battle of words would ensue with Mary King, who was devoted to the young governess. "You may say what you like, Kate, but I tell you Miss Holte is a lady. I know one when I see one." And now the jealous eyes of Kate Mansfield dwelt with fierce anger on Hyacinth. "Call her a lady!" she said to herself sneeringly. "Ladies do not talk to servants in that fashion. Why, she clasps hands as though she were begging and praying him about something! I will say nothing now, but I will tell Miss Dartelle; she will see about it." And Kate went home in what she called a "temper." Gustave walked away full of thought. He would certainly act honorably toward Miss Vaughan--would give her fair warning before he said anything to Lord Chandon. Perhaps, after all, she knew best. It might be better that his master should know nothing of her being there; it was just possible that there were circumstances in the case of which he knew nothing, and there was some rumor in the servant's hall about his master and Miss Dartelle. Doubtless it would be wise to accede to Miss Vaughan's request and say nothing. But during the remainder of that day Gustave was so silent, so preoccupied, that his fellow-servants were puzzled to discover the reason. He did not even take notice of Kate's anger. He spoke to her, and did not observe that she was disinclined to answer; nor did he seem to understand her numerous allusions to "underhand people" and "cunning ways." "I almost think," said Gustave to himself, "that I will send Miss Vaughan three lines to say that I have decided not to mention anything about her; she looked so imploringly at me, I had better not interfere." Of all the blows that could have fallen on the hapless girl, she least expected this. She had feared to meet Lord Chandon, and had most carefully kept out of his way; she had avoided Sir Aubrey lest any chance word of his should awaken Adrian's curiosity. She had taken every possible precaution, but she had never given one thought to Gustave. She remembered now having heard Lady Vaughan say how faithful he was, and how highly Adrian valued his services--how Gustave had never had any other master, and how he spared no pains to please him. And now suddenly he had become the chief person in her world. Her fate--nay, her life--lay in his hands--honest hands they were, she knew, and could rely implicitly on his word.