“Yes, madam.  Why, you see, ma’am, I came, as in duty bound, to look after your affairs and see as they were all right, which they are not, ma’am.  There’s the rain pipes along the roof of the house leaking so the cistern never gets full of water, and I must come and solder them right away, and the lightning reds wants fastenin’ more securely, and—­”

“Well, but see Grainger, my overseer, about these things; do not trouble me with them.”

“Yes, madam.  I think overseers ought to be called overlookers, because they oversee so little and overlook so much.  Now, there’s the hinges nearly rusted off the big barn door, and I dessay he never saw it.”

“Well, Morris, call his attention to that also; do whatever you find necessary to be done, and call upon Grainger to settle with you.”

“Yes, madam.  It wasn’t on’y the rain pipes and hinges as wanted attention that brought me here, however, ma’am,”

“What was it, then?  Be quick, if you please.  I am very much occupied this morning.”

“Yes, madam.  It was something I heard and felt it my duty to tell you; because, you see, ma’am, I think it is the duty of every honest—­”

“Come, come, Morris, I have no time to listen to an oration from you now.  In two words, what had you to tell me?” interrupted the lady impatiently.

“Yes, madam.  It were about young Mr. Herman, ma’am.”

“Mr. Brudenell, if you please, Morris.  My son is the head of his family.”

“Certainly, madam.  Mr. Brudenell.”

“Well, what about Mr. Brudenell?”

“Yes, madam.  You know he was away from home every day last spring and summer.”

“I remember; he went to fish; he is very fond of fishing.”

“Certainly, madam; but he was out every day this autumn.”

“I am aware of that; he was shooting; he is an enthusiastic sportsman.”

“To be sure, madam, so he is; but he is gone every day this winter.”

“Of course; hunting; there is no better huntsman in the country than Mr. Brudenell.”

“That is very true, madam; do you know what sort of game he is a-huntin’ of?” inquired the professor meaningly, but most deferentially.

“Foxes, I presume,” said the lady, with a look of inquiry.

“Yes, madam, sure enough; I suppose they is foxes, though in female form,” said the professor dryly, but still respectfully.

“Whatever do you mean, Morris?” demanded the lady sternly.

“Well, madam, if it was not from a sense of duty, I would not dare to speak to you on this subject; for I think when a man presumes to meddle with things above his speer, he—­”

“I remarked to you before, Morris, that I had no time to listen to your moral disquisitions.  Tell me at once, then, what you meant to insinuate by that strange speech,” interrupted the lady.

“Yes, madam, certainly.  When you said Mr. Brudenell was a hunting of foxes, I saw at once the correctness of your suspicions, madam; for they is foxes.”