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people who want governesses； and who will give them addresses in
London as well。 If； on the other hand； our luck helps us； and he
refers his correspondents to a shop； post…office； or what not _at
Thorpe Ambrose；_ there we have our advertiser as plainly picked
out for us as we can wish。 In this last case； I have little or no
doubtwith me for your referenceof your finding your way into
the major's family circle。 We have one great advantage over the
other women who will answer the advertisement。 Thanks to my
inquiries on the spot； I know Major Milroy to be a poor man； and
we will fix the salary you ask at a figure that is sure to tempt
him。 As for the style of the letter； if you and I together can't
write a modest and interesting application for the vacant place；
I should like to know who can？
〃All this； however； is still in the future。 For the present my
advice is； stay where you are； and dream to your heart's content；
till you hear from me again。 I take in _The Times_ regularly； and
you may trust my wary eye not to miss the right advertisement。 We
can luckily give the major time； without doing any injury to our
own interests； for there is no fear just yet of the girl's
getting the start of you。 The public reception； as we know； won't
be ready till near the end of the month； and we may safely trust
young Armadale's vanity to keep him out of his new house until
his flatterers are all assembled to welcome him。
〃It's odd； isn't it； to think how much depends on this half…pay
officer's decision？ For my part； I shall wake every morning now
with the same question in my mind： If the major's advertisment
appears； which will the major sayThorpe Ambrose； or London？
〃Ever； my dear Lydia； affectionately yours；
〃MARIA OLDERSHAW。〃
CHAPTER II。
ALLAN AS A LANDED GENTLEMAN。
EARLY on the morning after his first night's rest at Thorpe
Ambrose； Allan rose and surveyed the prospect from his bedroom
window； lost in the dense mental bewilderment of feeling himself
to be a stranger in his own house。
The bedroom looked out over the great front door； with its
portico； its terrace and flight of steps beyond； and； further
still； the broad sweep of the well…timbered park to close the
view。 The morning mist nestled lightly about the distant trees；
and the cows were feeding sociably； close to the iron fence which
railed off the park from the drive in front of the house。 〃All
mine！〃 thought Allan； staring in blank amazement at the prospect
of his own possessions。 〃Hang me if I can beat it into my head
yet。 All mine！〃
He dressed； left his room； and walked along the corridor which
led to the staircase and hall； opening the doors in succession as
he passed them。
The rooms in this part of the house were bedrooms and
dressing…rooms； light； spacious； perfectly furnished； and all
empty； except the one bed…chamber next to Allan's； which had been
appropriated to Midwinter。 He was still sleeping when his friend
looked in on him； having sat late into the night writing his
letter to Mr。 Brock。 Allan went on to the end of the first
corridor； turned at right angles into a second； and； that passed；
gained the head of the great staircase。 〃No romance here；〃 he
said to himself； looking down the handsomely carpeted stone
stairs into the bright modern hall。 〃Nothing to startle
Midwinter's fidgety nerves in this house。〃 There was nothing；
indeed； Allan's essentially superficial observation had not
misled him for once。 The mansion of Thorpe Ambrose （built after
the pulling down of the dilapidated old manor…house） was barely
fifty years old。 Nothing picturesque； nothing in the slightest
degree suggestive of mystery and romance； appeared in any part of
it。 It was a purely conventional country housethe product of
the classical idea filtered judiciously through the commercial
English mind。 Viewed on the outer side； it presented the
spectacle of a modern manufactory trying to look like an ancient
temple。 Viewed on the inner side； it was a marvel of luxurious
comfort in every part of it； from basement to roof。 〃And quite
right； too；〃 thought Allan； sauntering contentedly down the
broad； gently graduated stairs。 〃Deuce take all mystery and
romance！ Let's be clean and comfortable； that's what I say。〃
Arrived in the hall； the new master of Thorpe Ambrose hesitated；
and looked about him； uncertain which way to turn next。
The four reception…rooms on the ground…floor opened into the
hall； two on either side。 Allan tried the nearest door on his
right hand at a venture； and found himself in the drawing…room。
Here the first sign of life appeared； under life's most
attractive form。 A young girl was in solitary possession of the
drawing…room。 The duster in her hand appeared to associate her
with the domestic duties of the house； but at that particular
moment she was occupied in asserting the rights of nature over
the obligations of service。 In other words； she was attentively
contemplating her own face in the glass over the mantelpiece。
〃There！ there！ don't let me frighten you；〃 said Allan； as the
girl started away from the glass； and stared at him in
unutterable confusion。 〃I quite agree with you； my dear； your
face is well worth looking at。 Who are you？ Oh； the housemaid。
And what's your name？ Susan； eh？ Come！ I like your name； to begin
with。 Do you know who I am； Susan？ I'm your master； though you
may not think it。 Your character？ Oh； yes！ Mrs。 Blanchard gave
you a capital character。 You shall stop here； don't be afraid。
And you'll be a good girl； Susan； and wear smart little caps and
aprons and bright ribbons； and you'll look nice and pretty； and
dust the furniture； won't you？〃 With this summary of a
housemaid's duties； Allan sauntered back into the hall； and found
more signs of life in that quarter。 A man…servant appeared on
this occasion； and bowed； as became a vassal in a linen jacket；
before his liege lord in a wide…awake hat。
〃And who may you be？〃 asked Allan。 〃Not the man who let us in
last night？ Ah； I thought not。 The second footman； eh？ Character？
Oh； yes； capital character。 Stop here； of course。 You can valet
me； can you？ Bother valeting me！ I like to put on my own clothes；
and brush them； too； when they _are_ on； and； if I only knew how
to black my own boots； by George； I should like to do it！ What
room's this？ Morning…room； eh？ And here's the dining…room； of
course。 Good heavens； what a table！ it's as long as my yacht； and
longer。 I say； by…the…by； what's your name？ Richard； is it？ Well；
Richard； the vessel I sail in is a vessel of my own building？
What do you think of that？ You look to me just the right sort of
man to be my steward on board。 If you're not sick at seaoh； you
_are_ sick at sea？ Well； then； we'll say nothing more about it。
And what room is this？ Ah； yes； the library； of coursemore in
Mr。 Midwinter's way than mine。 Mr。 Midwinter is the gentleman who
came here with me last night； and mind this； Richard； you're al l
to show him as much attention as you show me。 Where are we now？
What's this door at the back？ Billiard…room and smoking…room； eh？
Jolly。 Another door！ and more stairs！ Where do they go to？ and
who's this coming up？ Ta