“He did not write them for her,” said Jennings doubtfully, “at least I don’t think so.  It is impossible to say how the photograph came into the possession of that lady.”

“Will you ask him, sir?”

“Yes, when you are gone.  But he won’t speak while you are in the room.”

Susan drooped her head and rose dolefully.  “My dream is gone,” she said mournfully, “though I was improving myself in spelling and figures so that I might go out as a governess and perhaps meet him in high circles.”

“Ah, that’s all Family Herald fiction,” said Jennings, not unkindly.

“Yes!  I know now, sir.  My delusions are gone.  But I will do anything I can to help Mr. Mallow and I hope he’ll always think kindly of me.”

“I’m sure he will.  By the way, what are you doing now?”

“I go home to help mother at Stepney, sir, me having no call to go out to service.  I have a happy home, though not fashionable.  And after my heart being crushed I can’t go out again,” sighed Susan sadly.

“Are you sorry to leave Rose Cottage?”

“No, sir,” Susan shuddered, “that dead body with the blood and the cards will haunt me always.  Mrs. Pill, as is going to marry Thomas Barnes and rent the cottage, wanted me to stay, but I couldn’t.”

Jennings pricked up his ears.  “What’s that?  How can Mrs. Pill rent so expensive a place.”

“It’s by arrangement with Miss Saxon, sir.  Mrs. Pill told me all about it.  Miss Saxon wished to sell the place, but Thomas Barnes spoke to her and said he had saved money while in Miss Loach’s service for twenty years—­”

“Ah,” said Jennings thoughtfully, “he was that time in Miss Loach’s service, was he?”

“Yes, sir.  And got good wages.  Well, sir, Miss Saxon hearing he wished to marry the cook and take the cottage and keep boarders, let him rent it with furniture as it stands.  She and Mrs. Octagon are going back to town, and Mrs. Pill is going to have the cottage cleaned from cellar to attic before she marries Thomas and receives the boarder.”

“Oh.  So she has a boarder?”

“Yes, sir.  She wouldn’t agree to Thomas taking the cottage as her husband, unless she had a boarder to start with, being afraid she and Thomas could not pay the rent.  So Thomas saw Mr. Clancy and he is coming to stop.  He has taken all the part where Miss Loach lived, and doesn’t want anyone else in the house, being a quiet man and retired.”

“Ah!  Ah!  Ah!” said Jennings in three different tones of voice.  “I think Mrs. Pill is very wise.  I hope she and Thomas will do well.  By the way, what do you think of Mr. Barnes?”

Susan did not leave him long in doubt as to her opinion.  “I think he is a stupid fool,” she said, “and it’s a good thing Mrs. Pill is going to marry him.  He was guided by Miss Loach all his life, and now she’s dead, he goes about like a gaby.  One of those men, sir,” explained Susan, “as needs a woman to look after them.  Not like that gentleman,” she cast a tender glance at the door, “who can protect the weakest of my sex.”