“O’ course not,” said Sam, “and nobody never did, nor never vill neither; and here am I a-walkin’ about like the wandering Jew⁠—a sportin’ character you have perhaps heerd on Mary, my dear, as vos alvays doin’ a match agin’ time, and never vent to sleep⁠—looking arter this here Miss Arabella Allen.”

“Miss who?” said Mary, in great astonishment.

“Miss Arabella Allen,” said Sam.

“Goodness gracious!” said Mary, pointing to the garden door which the sulky groom had locked after him. “Why, it’s that very house; she’s been living there these six weeks. Their upper housemaid, which is lady’s-maid too, told me all about it over the washhouse palin’s before the family was out of bed, one mornin’.”

“Wot, the wery next door to you?” said Sam.

“The very next,” replied Mary.