While she had been carrying this out she retained
a duster in one hand, and dusted the wood work as she moved along,
trusting that if Miss Penfold should look in, the string, which was of
a dark color, would be unnoticed by her. However she gave a sigh of
relief when the operation was complete, and the string and brad awl
hidden away. She then continued her work until in about three-quarters
of an hour Miss Penfold again appeared.
"I think that will do very well, Anna; it is quite impossible to get
all the dust out of the carving. It would take you all day to go over
it, and you would need steps for the upper part. That need only be
done occasionally." She gave an approving glance round as she noticed
that the new housemaid had carefully placed every article in the exact
place in which she had found it. Mrs. Conway gathered up the brooms
and dusters and left the room, Miss Penfold carefully locking the door
after her.
"That is something done," Mrs. Conway said to herself; "and will, I
think, save me an immense deal of trouble. To-morrow I will measure
the rooms next to it. The passage runs along the side and it is hardly
possible that there can be any receptacle there; the wall is not thick
enough for a place of any size. It must be at one end or the other, or
else under the floor."
The following morning she measured the dining-room, and what was now
known as the housekeeper's room, but which in years gone by had been
called the still room; and the following day slipped out of doors as
soon as she came downstairs and took the outside measurement of the
side of the house, marking on the string the position and width of
each window.
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