‘Dear! no!’ said she.  ‘The poor thing is in bed with a headache.’  If Hope had been ill at home I should have felt free to go and sit by her as I had done more than once.  It seemed a little severe to be shut away from her now but Mrs Fuller’s manner had fore-answered any appeal and I held my peace.  Having no children of her own she had assumed a sort of proprietorship over Hope that was evident — that probably was why the girl had ceased to love me and to write to me as of old.  A troop of mysteries came clear to me that morning.  Through many gifts and favours she had got my sweetheart in a sort of bondage and would make a marriage of her own choosing if possible.

’Is there anything you would like particularly for your breakfast?  Mrs Fuller enquired.

‘Hain’t no way pertic’lar,’ said Uncle Eb.  ’I gen rally eat buckwheat pancakes an’ maple sugar with a good strong cup o’tea.

Mrs Fuller left the room a moment.

’Dunno but I’ll go out if the barn a minnit ’n take a look at the hosses,’ he said when she came back.

‘The stable is a mile away,’ she replied smiling.

‘Gran’ good team ye druv us out with las’ night,’ he said.  ’Hed a chance t’look ’em over a leetle there at the door.  The off hoss is puffed some for’ard but if yer husband’ll put on a cold bandage ev’ry night it’ll make them legs smoother n a hound’s tooth.

She thanked him and invited us to look in at the conservatory.

‘Where’s yer husband?’ Uncle Eb enquired.

‘He’s not up yet,’ said she, ’I fear he did not sleep well.

‘Now Mis Fuller,’ said Uncle Eb, as we sat waiting, ’if there s anything I can do t’help jes’le’me know what ’tis.

She said there was nothing.  Presently Uncle Eb sneezed so powerfully that it rattled the crystals on the chandelier and rang in the brass medallions.

The first and second butlers came running in with a frightened look.  There was also a startled movement from somebody above stairs.

‘I do sneeze powerful, sometimes,’ said Uncle Eb from under his red bandanna. ‘’S enough if scare anybody.’

They brought in our breakfast then — a great array of tempting dishes.  ’Jest hev four pancakes ‘n a biled egg,’ said Uncle Eb as he sipped his tea.  ‘Grand tea!’ he added, ’strong enough if float a silver dollar too.

‘Mrs Fuller,’ I said rising, when we had finished, ’I thank you for your hospitality, but as I shall have to work nights, probably, I must find lodgings near the office.

‘You must come and see us again,’ she answered cordially.  ’On Saturday I shall take Hope away for a bit of rest to Saratoga probably — and from there I shall take her to Hillsborough myself for a day or two.

‘Thought she was goin’ home with me,’ said Uncle Eb.

‘O dear no!’ said Mrs Fuller, ’she cannot go now.  The girl is ill and it’s such a long journey.’

The postman came then with a letter for Uncle Eb.