And there was no one else in the house.

“Good evening, Emily,” said Stephen, looking up the stairs.

“Good evening, Mr. Byrne,” said Emily, halting on the stairs. She was a little surprised to see him. Cook was having her “evening out” and Emily had thought herself alone in the house.

Now, Emily Gaunt was a well-behaved young woman. She was accustomed to being looked at by her male employers, and she was accustomed to keeping them at a proper distance. For so she had been brought up. But when she was not looked at she was usually sensible of a certain disappointment. Stephen Byrne had not looked at her enough, and she was undeniably disappointed. She liked the look of him; she liked his voice when he said, “Where are my boots, please, Emily?” And she did not get on well with Mrs. Byrne. Moreover, she had had a warm bath and was conscious also of a kind of glow.