Now she turned
on Liddy pettishly.
"I declare, Liddy," she said, "you are a bundle of nerves. What
if Eliza did see some men around the stable? It may have been
Warner and Alex."
"Warner is in the kitchen, miss," Liddy said with dignity. "And
if you had come through what I have, you would be a bundle of
nerves, too. Miss Rachel, I'd be thankful if you'd give me my
month's wages to-morrow. I'll be going to my sister's."
"Very well," I said, to her evident amazement. "I will make out
the check. Warner can take you down to the noon train."
Liddy's face was really funny.
"You'll have a nice time at your sister's," I went on. "Five
children, hasn't she?"
"That's it," Liddy said, suddenly bursting into tears. "Send me
away, after all these years, and your new shawl only half done,
and nobody knowin' how to fix the water for your bath."
"It's time I learned to prepare my own bath." I was knitting
complacently. But Gertrude got up and put her arms around
Liddy's shaking shoulders.
"You are two big babies," she said soothingly. "Neither one of
you could get along for an hour without the other. So stop
quarreling and be good. Liddy, go right up and lay out Aunty's
night things. She is going to bed early."
After Liddy had gone I began to think about the men at the
stable, and I grew more and more anxious. Halsey was aimlessly
knocking the billiard-balls around in the billiard-room, and I
called to him.
"Halsey," I said when he sauntered in, "is there a policeman in
Casanova?"
"Constable," he said laconically.
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