Mr.
Simon was much interested, and with the instinct of the true hunter,
whose business it is to hunt death for the sake of life,
began to think whether here might not be another prepared to
receive. He knew her father well, but had made no acquaintance with
Agnes yet, who indeed was not a little afraid of him, for he looked
as if he were always thinking about things nobody else knew of,
although, in common with every woman who saw it, she did find his
smile reassuring. No doubt the peculiar feeling of the neighbours
concerning him had caused her involuntarily to associate with him
the idea of something "no canny." Not the less, when she heard from
Cosmo what sort of man his new master was, would she have given all
she possessed to learn of him. And before long, she had her chance.
Old Dorothy, Mr. Simon's servant and housekeeper was one day taken
ill, and Cosmo mentioning the fact in Aggie's hearing, she ran,
with a mere word to her mother, and not a moments' cogitation, to
offer her assistance till she was better.
It turned out that "auld Dorty," as the neighbours called her, not
without some hint askance at the quality of her temper, was not
very seriously ailing, yet sufficiently so to accept a little help
for the rougher work of the house; and while Aggie was on her knees
washing the slabs of the passage that led through to the back door,
the master, as she always called him now that Cosmo was his pupil,
happened to come from his room, and saw and addressed her.
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