"Some say it is a hermit, a bearish kind of gentleman who sees no one and never goes out." "Ah," said Dora. "Is he a painter?" "I think so, ma'am, but I am not sure." "He has had the house done up like new." "I have heard that he is going to be married--that he has had the house finely decorated for his future wife." "Ah, and who told you all these details?" "The tradespeople," replied Hobbs quickly. Dora went on writing, and Hobbs, fearing she had said too much, determined to turn a deaf ear to any questions Dora might put to her in future on the subject of 50 Elm Avenue and its new master. XVII DORA'S STUDIO We have every reason to suppose that if Lorimer had not called on Dora in her new quarters, it was because he had not dared to do so. He saw Philip often, and so had news of her nearly every day. He had feared to be importunate, all the more so that Philip had told him how Dora had closed her doors to everyone, and had shut herself up in complete seclusion. It was in the early part of the month of April 1898 that Lorimer received from Dora a letter in which she said to him, "If you will come, dear friend, I shall be so pleased to see you. I am in very poor lodgings, but I am sure that will not make you pass me by on the other side. Do come soon, I am longing to see a friendly face." Lorimer lost no time in responding to her call. Hobbs opened the door to him and beamed to see his cheerful face. "Oh, sir! I am glad to see you, sir," said she. "Well, my dear Hobbs, and how are things going by this time?" asked Lorimer, in his cheeriest tones. "You will do mistress such a lot of good, sir! She has not been at all herself lately. She is very weak to-day and has passed a very bad night--she is quite changed since the day she saw our old house was occupied again, and yet she could not have thought that it would remain unlet for ever." "She does not know who it is that is living there, of course?" "No, no, sir; but I should dearly love to tell her. I believe it would put her into a better humour." "Take care that you do not, Hobbs; she must not hear on any account. You will know why later on. You may be sure that Mr. Grantham and I are not idle. We have an idea in our heads, and you shall help us by and by to put it into execution; so, for the present, not one word, you hear?" "You can rely upon me, sir." "Yes, I am sure of that. And now, can I have a little talk with Mrs. Grantham?" "Yes, sir, in a minute or two. She will be so glad to see you, you will do her much good! The doctor is with her for the moment." "What does he say about her?" "Nothing--I can't get anything out of him. He shakes his head. It's disheartening. And mistress will not listen to reason; she tears up all the prescriptions, especially lately, for the last week or so--it is very sad. I shall go and tell her you are here." Lorimer, left alone in the studio, looked around him and took in all its details.