She felt her pulse thumping a little as she opened the library door.  There was undoubtedly something about the Squire—­some queer magnetism—­born perhaps of his very restlessness and unexpectedness—­that made life in his neighbourhood seldom less than interesting.  His temper this morning would probably be of the worst.  Something, or some one, had defeated all his schemes for a magnificent assertion of the rights of man.  His park was in the hands of the invaders.  The public plough was impudently at work.  And at the same moment his secretary had given warning, and the new catalogue—­the darling of his heart—­would be thrown on his hands.  It would not be surprising to find him rampant.  Elizabeth entered almost on tip-toe, prepared to be all that was meek and conciliating, so far as was compatible with her month’s notice.

* * * * *

A tall figure rose from the Squire’s table and made her a formal bow.

’Good-morning, Miss Bremerton.  I expected your assistance yesterday afternoon, but you had, I understand, made an engagement?’

‘I asked you—­a few days ago,’ said Elizabeth, mildly confronting him.  ‘I am sorry if it inconvenienced you.’

‘Oh, all right—­all right,’ said the Squire hastily.  ’I had forgotten all about it.  Well, anyway, we have lost a great deal of time.’  His voice conveyed reproach.  His greenish eyes were fierily bent upon her.

Elizabeth sat down at her table without reply, and chose a pen.  The morning’s work generally consisted of descriptions of vases and bronzes in the Mannering collection, dictated by the Squire, and illustrated often by a number of references to classical writers, given both in Greek and English.  The labour of looking out and verifying the references was considerable, and the Squire’s testy temper was never more testy than when it was quarrelling with the difficulties of translation.

‘Kindly take down,’ he said peremptorily.

Elizabeth began: 

’"No. 190.  Greek vase, from a tomb excavated at Mitylene in 1902.  Fine work of the fifth century B.C.  Subject:  Penelope’s Web.  Penelope is seated at the loom.  Beside her are the figures of a young man and two females—­probably Telemachus and two hand-maidens.  The three male figures in the background may represent the suitors.  Size, 23 inches high; diameter, 11 inches.  Perfect, except for a restoration in one of the handles.”

‘Have you got that?’

‘Yes.’

’Go on please.  “This vase is of course an illustration of the well-known passage in the Odyssey, Book 21. 103.  I take Mr. Samuel Butler’s translation, which is lively and modern and much to be preferred to the heavy archaisms of the other fellows."’

Elizabeth gave a slight cough.  The Squire looked at her sharply.

‘Oh, you think that’s not dignified?  Well, have it as you like.’