isnotresident,then?”

    “No.”

    “youtellmewhereheis?”

    “Iot.”

    “Youarenotaservantatthehall,ofcourse.Youare—”Hestopped,ranhiseyeovermydress,which,asusual,wasquitesimple:ablackmerinocloak,ablackbeaverbo;herofthemhalffineenoughforalady’s-maid.HeseemedpuzzledtodecidewhatIwas;Ihelpedhim.

    “Iamthegoverness.”

    “Ah,thegoverness!”herepeated;“deucetakeme,ifIhadnotten!Thegoverness!”andagainmyraimentunderwentscrutiny.Intwominutesherosefromthestile:hisfaceexpressedpairiedtomove.

    “Imissionyoutofetchhelp,”hesaid;“butyoumayhelpmealittleyourself,ifyouwillbesokind.”

    “Yes,sir.”

    “YouhavenotanumbrellathatIuseasastick?”

    “No.”

    “Trytogetholdofmyhorse’sbridleandleadhimtome:youarenotafraid?”

    Ishouldhavebeenafraidtotouchahorsewhenalowhentoldtodoit,Iwasdisposedtoobey.Iputdownmymuffoile,auptothetallsteed;Iendeavouredtocatchthebridle,butitiritedthing,andwouldmeeshead;Imadeeffortoneffort,thoughinvaiime,Iwasmortallyafraidofitstramplingfore-feet.Thetravellerwaitedandwatchedforsometime,andatlasthelaughed.

    “Isee,”hesaid,“themountainwillneverbebroughttoMahomet,soallyoudoistoaidMahomettogotothemountain;Imustbegofyoutoehere.”

    Icame.“Excuseme,”hetinued:“ypelsmetomakeyouuseful.”Helaidaheavyhandonmyshoulder,andleaningohsomestress,limpedtohishorse.Havingoncecaughtthebridle,hemastereditdirectlyandsprangtohissaddle;grimaggrimlyashemadetheeffort,foritwrenchedhissprain.

    “Now,”saidhe,releasinghisunderlipfromahardbite,“justhandm