I was about to follow him, but he waved me back as I went into the hall, and he went on.  I heard the ring of a low, frenzied laugh, as I began unwrapping from my journey.  My casket of treasures I had committed to bands for keeping.  Now I laid it down, and, folding up my protective robes, I had just gone to try my father’s easy-chair, alone, when Jeffy’s ebon head struck in again.

“I didn’t see ye afore, Miss Anna.  I’so mighty glad you’ve come;” and Jeffy atoned for his former omission by his present joy.

“How is he?” I questioned Jeffy, as if I knew all the antecedents of the case perfectly.

“Oh, he’s jolly to-night.  I think Master Percival might have let me stay to see the fun;” and Jeffy’s eyes rolled to and fro in their orbits, as if anxious to strike against some wandering comet.

“Is tea over?” I asked.

“No, miss.  Master said he’d wait for you.  I’ll go and tell that you’re here;” and Jeffy took himself off, eager for action.

He was not long gone.

“It’s all ready, waiting a bit for master.  He can’t come down just this minute,” said Jeffy.  “Look a here, Miss Anna,—­isn’t it vastly funny master’s bringing a crazy man here?  They say down in the kitchen, that as how it wouldn’t ‘a’ been, if you’d been home.  It’s real good, though.  It’s the splendidest thing that’s happened.  Wait till you see him perform.  Ask him to sing.  It’s frolicky to hear him.”

The boy went on, and I did not stop him.  I was as anxious for information as he to impart it.  When he paused for breath, in the width of detail that he furnished, I asked,—­

“When was this stranger brought here?”

“Three days ago, Miss Anna, I hope he’ll stay forever and ever;” and Jeffy darted off at a mellifluous sound that dropped down from above.

“There! he has thrown the poker at the mirror again, I do believe,” said another voice in the hall, and I recognized the housekeeper.

Staid Mrs. Ordilinier came in to greet me, with the uniform greeting of her lifetime.  I verily believe that she has but one way of receiving.  Electricity and bread-and-butter would meet the same recognitory reception.

“Did you hear that noise, Miss Anna?” she said, as another sound came, that was vastly like the shivering of glass.

“What was it, Mrs. Ordilinier?”

I gave her the question to gain information.  I sought it,—­but she, not disposed to gratify me at the moment, slowly ascended to ascertain the state of mirrors above.  She met my father’s silver hairs coming down.  He did not say one word to her.  He met me in the hall, took me back to the room, and, reseating me in my olden place, put his hand upon my head, and said,—­

“This must help me, Anna.”

“It will, papa; what is it?”

“I’ve a crazy man up-stairs.  He can’t do very much harm, for he is badly injured.”

“How?” I asked.