A SPY IN THE HOUSEHOLD 23

did not know who he was, but it did seem funny his entering
by that door, as if he did not want to be seen by anyone in
the house. I did not think anything more about it till I
saw him just now, then I knew him directly. If I had seen
him before I should have told you at once, but I don’t think
I have.”

“T daresay not, Ciceley. He does not wait at table, but
is under the steward, and helps clean the silver. He waits
when ‘we have several friends to dinner. At other times he
does not often come into the room. What you tell me is
certainly curious. What can he have to say to your father?”

“T don’t know, Charlie. I don’t know anything about
it. Ido think you ought to know.”

“Ves, I think it is a good thing that I should know,”
Charlie agreed thoughtfully. “TI daresay it is all right, but
at any rate I am glad you told me.”

“Vou won't tell your father?” she asked eagerly. “ Be-
cause if you were to speak of it—”

“T shall not tell him. You need not be afraid that what
you have told me will come out. It is curious, and that Is
all, and I will look after the fellow a bit. Don’t think
anything more about it. It is just the sort of thing it is
well to know, but I expect there is no harm in it one way
or the other. Of course he must have known your father
before he came to us, and may have business of some sort
with him. He may have a brother or some other relation
who wants to take one of your father’s farms. Indeed, there
are a hundred things he might want to see him about. But
still, I am glad you have told me.”

In his own mind Charlie thought much more seriously of
it than he pretended. He knew that at present his father
was engaged heart and soul in a projected Jacobite rising.
He knew that John Dormay was a bitter Whig. He
believed that he had a grudge against his father, and the
general opinion of him was that he was wholly unscrupulous.