The End.
LifeattheThreeChimneyswasneverquitethesameagainaftertheoldgentlemancametoseehisgrandson.Althoughtheynowknewhisname,thechildrenneverspokeofhimbyit—atanyrate,whentheywerebythemselves.Tothemhewasalwaystheoldgentleman,andIthinkhehadbetterbetheoldgentlemantous,too.Itwouldn’tmakehimseemanymorerealtoyou,wouldit,ifIweretotellyouthathisnamewasSnooksorJenkins(whichitwasn’t)?—and,afterall,Imustbeallowedtokeeponesecret.It’stheonlyone;Ihavetoldyoueverythingelse,exceptwhatIamgoingtotellyouinthischapter,whichisthelast.Atleast,ofcourse,Ihaven’ttoldyouEVERYTHING.IfIweretodothat,thebookwouldnevercometoanend,andthatwouldbeapity,wouldn’tit?
Well,asIwassaying,lifeatThreeChimneyswasneverquitethesameagain.Thecookandthehousemaidwereverynice(Idon’tmindtellingyoutheirnames—theywereClaraandEthelwyn),buttheytoldMothertheydidnotseemtowantMrs.Viney,andthatshewasanoldmuddler.SoMrs.Vineycameonlytwodaysaweektodowashingandironing.ThenClaraandEthelwynsaidtheycoulddotheworkallrightiftheyweren’tinterferedwith,andthatmeantthatthechildrennolongergottheteaandcleareditawayandwashedupthetea-thingsanddustedtherooms.
Thiswouldhaveleftquiteablankintheirlives,althoughtheyhadoftenpretendedtothemselvesandtoeachotherthattheyhatedhousework.