‘What!’ said lady Herbert, something merrily, but looking in the face of her father-in-law with a little anxious questioning in her eyes, ‘has my lord been falling out with my Ned?’

‘Hark ye, daughter!’ answered the marquis, his face beaming with restored good-humour, for the twinge in his toe had abated, ’and you too, my good chaplain!—­if my son be dejected, I can raise him when I please; but it is a question, if he should once take a head, whether I could bring him lower when I list.  Ned was not wont to use such courtship to me, and I believe he intended a better word for his father; but must was for the king.’

Returning to her own room, lady Margaret found Dorothy waiting for her.

‘Well, my little lig-a-bed!’ she said sweetly, ’what is amiss with thee?  Thou lookest but soberly.’

‘I am well, madam; and that I look soberly,’ said Dorothy, ’you will not wonder when I tell you wherefore.  But first, if it please you, I would pray for my lord’s presence, that he too may know all.’

‘Holy mother! what is the matter, child?’ cried lady Margaret, of late easily fluttered.  ’Is it my lord Herbert you mean, or my lord of Worcester?’

’My lord Herbert, my lady.  I dread lest he should be gone ere I have found a time to tell him.’

‘He rides again after dinner,’ said lady Margaret.

’Then, dear my lady, if you would keep me from great doubt and disquiet, let me have the ear of my lord for a few moments.’

Lady Margaret rang for her page, and sent him to find his master and request his presence in her parlour.

Within five minutes lord Herbert was with them, and within five more, Dorothy had ended her tale of the night, uninterrupted save by lady Margaret’s exclamations of sympathy.

‘And now, my lord, what am I to do?’ she asked in conclusion.

Lord Herbert made no answer for a few moments, but walked up and down the room.  Dorothy thought he looked angry as well as troubled.  He burst at length into a laugh, however, and said merrily,

’I have it, ladies!  I see how we may save my father much annoyance without concealment, for nothing must be concealed from him that in any way concerns the house.  But the annoyance arising from any direct attempt at discovering the wrongdoers would be endless, and its failure almost certain.  But now, as I would plan it, instead of trouble my father shall have laughter, and instead of annoyance such a jest as may make him good amends for the wrong done him by the breach of his household laws.  Caspar has explained to you all concerning the water-works, I believe, cousin?’

’All, my lord.  I may without presumption affirm that I can, so long as there arises no mishap, with my own hand govern them all.  Caspar has for many weeks left everything to me, save indeed the lighting of the furnace-fire.’