第16章

Thedoorwasopenedbyamaid。

"IsMrs。Stainesathome?"

"Yes，ma"am，sheisatHOME:but——"

"CanIseeher?"

"Why，no，ma"am，notatpresent。"

"ButImustseeher。Iamanoldfriend。Pleasetakehermycard。

LadyCicelyTreherne。"

Themaidhesitated，andlookedconfused。"Perhapsyoudon"tknow，ma"am。Mrs。Staines，sheis——thedoctorhavebeeninthehouseallday。"

"Ah，thedoctor!IbelieveDr。PhilipStainesishere。"

"Why，thatISthedoctor，ma"am。Yes，heishere。"

"Then，prayletmeseehim——orno；IhadbetterseeMr。Lusignan。"

"Masterhavegoneoutfortheday，ma"am；butifyou"llstepinthedrawing-room，I"lltellthedoctor。"

LadyCicelywaitedinthedrawing-roomsometime，heart-sickandtrembling。

AtlastDr。Philipcamein，withhercardinhishand，lookingevidentlyalittlecrossattheinterruption。"Now，madam，pleasetellme，asbrieflyasyoucan，whatIcandoforyou。"

"AreyouDr。PhilipStaines?"

"Iam，madam，atyourservice——forfiveminutes。Can"tquitmypatientlong，justnow。"

"Oh，sir，thankGodIhavefoundyou。Bepreparedforillnews——

sadnews——aterriblecalamity——Ican"tspeak。Readthat，sir。"

AndshehandedhimTadcaster"snote。

Hetookit，andreadit。

Heburiedhisfaceinhishands。"Christopher!mypoor，poorboy!"

hegroaned。Butsuddenlyaterribleanxietyseizedhim。"Whoknowsofthis?"heasked。

"Onlymyself，sir。Icameheretobreakittoher。"

"Youareagood，kindlady，forbeingsothoughtful。Madam，ifthisgetstomyniece"sears，itwillkillher，assureaswestandhere。"

"Thenletuskeepitfromher。Commandme，sir。Iwilldoanything。Iwilllivehere——takethelettersin——thejournals——

anything。"

"No，no；youhavedoneyourpart，andGodblessyouforit。Youmustnotstayhere。Yourladyship"sverypresence，andyouragitation，wouldsettheservantstalking，andsomeidiot-fiendamongthembabbling——thereisnothingsoterribleasafool。"

"MayIremainattheinn，sir；justonenight?"

"Ohyes，Iwishyouwould；andIwillrunover，ifalliswellwithher——wellwithher?poorunfortunategirl!"

LadyCicelysawhewishedhergone，andshewentdirectly。

Atnineo"clockthatsameevening，asshelayonasofainthebestroomoftheinn，attendedbyhermaid，Dr。PhilipStainescametoher。Shedismissedhermaid。

Dr。Philipwastooold，inotherwords，hadlosttoomanyfriends，tobereallybrokendownbybereavement；buthewasstrangelysubdued。Theloudtoneswereoutofhim，andtheloudlaugh，andeventhekeensneer。Yethewasthesameman；butwithagentlersurface；andthiswasnotwithoutitspathos。

"Well，madam，"saidhegravelyandquietly。"Itisasitalwayshasbeen。"Asistheraceofleaves，sothatofman。"Whenonefalls，anothercomes。Here"salittleChristophercome，inplaceofhimthatisgone:abrave，beautifulboy，ma"am；thefinestbutoneIeverbroughtintotheworld。Heiscometotakehisfather"splaceinourhearts——Iseeyouvaluedhispoorfather，ma"am——buthecomestoolateforme。Atyourage，ma"am，friendshipscomenaturally；theyspringlikelovesinthesoftheartofyouth:atseventy，thegateisnotsoopen；thesoilismoresterile。I

shallnevercareforanotherChristopher；neverseeanothergrowtoman"sestate。"

"Themother，sir，"sobbedLadyCicely；"thepoormother?"

"Likethemall——poorcreature:inheaven，madam；inheaven。Newlife!newexistence!anewcharacter。Allthepride，glory，rapture，andamazementofmaternity——thankstoherignorance，whichwemustprolong，orIwouldnotgiveonestrawforherlife，orherson"s。Ishallneverleavethehousetillshedoesknowit，andcomewhenitmay，Idreadthehour。Sheisnotframedbynaturetobearsodeadlyashock。"

"Herfather，sir。Wouldhenotbethebestpersontobreakittoher?Hewasoutto-day。"

"Herfather，ma"am?Ishallgetnohelpfromhim。Heisoneofthosesoft，gentlecreatures，thatcomeintotheworldwithwhatyourcantingfoolscallamission；andhismissionistotakecareofnumberone。Notdishonestly，mindyou，norviolently，norrudely，butdoucelyandcalmly。Thecareabrutelikemetakesofhisvitals，thatcareLusignantakesofhisoutercuticle。Hisnumberoneisasensitiveplant。Noscenes，nonoise；nothingpainful——by-the-by，thelittlecreaturethatwritesinthepapers，andcallscalamitiesPAINFUL，isofLusignan"sbreed。Outto-day!

ofcoursehewasout，ma"am:heknewfrommehisdaughterwouldbeinperilallday，sohevisitedafriend。Heknewhisowntenderness，andevadedpaternalsensibilities:aself-defender。I

countonnohelpfromthatcharmingman。"

"Aman!Icallsuchcreachaasweptiles!"saidLadyCicely，herghastlycheekcoloringforamoment。

"Thenyougivethemafalseimportance。"

Inthecourseofthisinterview，LadyCicelyaccusedherselfsadlyofhavinginterferedbetweenmanandwife，andwiththebestintentionsbroughtaboutthiscruelcalamity。"Judge，then，sir，"

saidshe，"howgratefulIamtoyouforundertakingthiscrueltask。Iwasherschoolfellow，sir，andIloveherdearly；butshehasturnedagainstme，andnow，oh，withwhathorrorshewillregardme!"

"Madam，"saidthedoctor，"thereisnothingmoremeanandunjustthantojudgeothersbyeventsthatnonecouldforesee。Yourconscienceisclear。Youdidyourbestformypoornephew:butFatewilleditotherwise。Asformyniece，shehasmanyvirtues，butjusticeisoneyoumustnotlookforinthatquarter。Justicerequiresbrains。It"savirtuetheheartdoesnotdealin。Youmustbecontentwithyourowngoodconscience，andanoldman"sesteem。Youdidallforthebest；andthisverydayyouhavedoneagood，kindaction。Godblessyouforit!"

Thenhelefther；andnextdayshewentsadlyhome，andformanyalongdaythehollowworldsawnothingofCicelyTreherne。

WhenMr。Lusignancamehomethatnight，Dr。Philiptoldhimthemiserablestory，andhisfears。Hereceivedit，notasPhiliphadexpected。Thebachelorhadcountedwithouthisdormantpaternity。

Hewasterror-stricken——abject——fellintoachair，andwrunghishands，andweptpiteously。Tokeepitfromhisdaughtertillsheshouldbestronger，seemedtohimchimerical，impossible。However，Philipinsisteditmustbedone；andhemustmakesomeexcuseforkeepingoutofherway，orhismannerwouldrousehersuspicions。

Heconsentedreadilytothat，andindeedleftalltoDr。Philip。

Dr。Philiptrustednobody；notevenhisownconfidentialservant。

Heallowednojournaltocomeintothehousewithoutpassingthroughhishands，andhereadthemallbeforehewouldletanyothersoulinthehouseseethem。HeaskedRosatolethimbehersecretaryandopenherletters，givingasapretextthatitwouldbeaswellsheshouldhavenosmallworriesortroublejustnow。

"Why，"saidshe，"Iwasneversowellabletobearthem。Itmustbeagreatthingtoputmeoutnow。Iamsohappy，andliveinthefuture。Well，dearuncle，youcanifyoulike——whatdoesitmatter?——onlytheremustbeoneexception:myownChristie"sletters，youknow。"

"Ofcourse，"saidhe，wincinginwardly。

TheverynextdaycamealetterofcondolencefromMissLucas。Dr。

Philipinterceptedit，andlockeditup，tobeshownheratamorefittingtime。

Buthowcouldhehopetokeepsopublicathingasthisfromenteringthehouseinoneofahundrednewspapers?

HewentintoGravesend，andsearchedallthenewspapers，toseewhathehadtocontendwith。Tohishorror，hefounditinseveraldailiesandweeklies，andintwoillustratedpapers。Hesataghastatthedifficultyandthedanger。

Thebestthinghecouldthinkofwastobuythemall，andcutouttheaccount。Hedidso，andbroughtallthepapers，thusmutilated，intothehouse，andsentthemintothekitchen。Hesaidtohisoldservant，"ThesemayamuseMr。Lusignan"speople，andI

haveextractedallthatinterestsme。"

Bythesemeanshehopedthatnoneoftheservantswouldgoandbuymoreofthesesamepaperselsewhere。

Notwithstandingtheseprecautions，hetookthenurseapart，andsaid，"Now，youareanexperiencedwoman，andtobetrustedaboutanexcitablepatient。Mind，IobjecttoanyfemaleservantenteringMrs。Staines"sroomwithgossip。Keepthemoutsidethedoorforthepresent，please。Oh，andnurse，ifanythingshouldhappen，likelytogrieveortoworryher，itmustbekeptfromherentirely:canItrustyou?"

"Youmay，sir。"

"Ishalladdtenguineastoyourfee，ifshegetsthroughthemonthwithoutashockordisturbanceofanykind。"

Shestaredathim，inquiringly。Thenshesaid，——

"Youmayrelyonme，doctor。"

"IfeelImay。Still，shealarmsme。Shelooksquietenough，butsheisveryexcitable。"

NotalltheseprecautionsgaveDr。Philipanyrealsenseofsecurity；stilllessdidtheytoMr。Lusignan。Hewasnotatenderfather，insmallthings，buttheideaofactualdangertohisonlychildwasterribletohimandhenowpassedhislifeinacontinualtremble。

Thisisthelesstobewonderedat，whenItellyouthateventhestoutPhilipbegantolosehisnerve，hisappetite，hissleep，underthishourlyterrorandthishourlytorture。

Welldidthegreatimaginationofantiquityfeignatorment，toogreatforthemindlongtoendure，intheswordofDamoclessuspendedbyasinglehairoverhishead。Heretheswordhungoveraninnocentcreature，whosmiledbeneathit，fearless；butthesetwooldmenmustsitandwatchthesword，andaskthemselveshowlongbeforethatsubtlesalvationshallsnap。

"Illnewstravelsfast，"saystheproverb。"Thebirdsoftheairshallcarrythematter，"saysHolyWrit；anditisso。Noboltsnorbars，nopromisesnorprecautions，canlongshutoutagreatcalamityfromtheearsitistoblast，theheartitistowither。

Theveryairseemsfullofit，untilitfalls。

Rosa"schildwasmorethanafortnightold；andshewaslookingmorebeautifulthanever，asisoftenthecasewithaveryyoungmother，andDr。Philipcomplimentedheronherlooks。"Now，"saidhe，"youreaptheadvantageofbeinggood，andobedient，andkeepingquiet。Inanothertendaysorso，Imaytakeyoutotheseasideforaweek。IhavethehonortoinformyouthatfromaboutthefourthtothetenthofMarchthereisalwaysaweekoffineweather，whichtakeseverybodybysurprise，exceptme。Itdoesnotastonishme，becauseIobserveitisinvariable。Now，whatwouldyousayifIgaveyouaweekatHerneBay，tosetyouupaltogether?"

"Asyouplease，dearuncle，"saidMrs。Staines，withasweetsmile。

"Ishallbeveryhappytogo，ortostay。Ishallbehappyeverywhere，withmydarlingboy，andthethoughtofmyhusband。

Why，Icountthedaystillheshallcomebacktome。No，tous；tous，mypet。Howdareanaughtymammysayto"me，"asif"me"washalfthe"portanceofoo，apreciouspets!"

Dr。Philipwassurprisedintoasigh。

"Whatisthematter，dear?"saidRosa，veryquickly。

"Thematter?"

"Yes，dear，thematter。Yousighed；you，thelaughingphilosopher。"

"DidI?"saidhe，togaintime。"PerhapsIrememberedtheuncertaintyofhumanlife，andofallmortalhopes。Theoldwillhavetheirthoughts，mydear。Theyhaveseensomuchtrouble。"

"But，uncledear，heisaveryhealthychild。"

"Very。"

"Andyoutoldmeyourselfcarelessnesswasthecausesomanychildrendie。"

"Thatistrue。"

Shegavehimacuriousandrathersearchinglook；then，leaningoverherboy，said，"Mammy"snotafraid。BeautifulPetwasnotborntodiedirectly。Hewillneverleavehismam-ma。No，uncle，henevercan。Formylifeisboundinhisandhisdearfather"s。

Itisatriplecord:onego，goall。"

ShesaidthiswithaquietresolutionthatchilledUnclePhilip。

Atthismomentthenurse，whohadbeenbendingsopertinaciouslyoversomeworkthathereyeswereinvisible，lookedquicklyup，castafurtiveglanceatMrs。Staines，andfindingshewasemployedforthemoment，madeanagitatedsignaltoDr。Philip。Allshedidwastoclenchhertwohandsandliftthemhalfwaytoherface，andthencastafrightenedlooktowardsthedoor；butPhilip"ssensesweresosharpenedbyconstantalarmandwatching，thathesawatoncesomethingseriouswasthematter。Butashehadaskedhimselfwhatheshoulddoincaseofsomesuddenalarm，hemerelygaveanodofintelligencetothenurse，scarcelyperceptible，thenrosequietlyfromhisseat，andwenttothewindow。"Snowcoming，I

think，"saidhe。"ForallthatweshallhavetheMarchsummerintendays。Youmarkmywords。"Hethenwentleisurelyoutoftheroom；atthedoorheturned，and，withallthecunninghewasmasterof，said，"Oh，bytheby，cometomyroom，nurse，whenyouareatleisure。"

"Yes，doctor，"saidthenurse，butnevermoved。Shewastoobentonhidingtheagitationshereallyfelt。

"Hadyounotbettergotohim，nurse?"

"PerhapsIhad，madam。"

Sherosewithfeignedindifference，andlefttheroom。Shewalkedleisurelydownthepassage，then，castingahastyglancebehindher，forfearMrs。Stainesshouldbewatchingher，hurriedintothedoctor"sroom。Theymetatonceinthemiddleoftheroom，andMrs。Briscoeburstout，"Sir，itisknownalloverthehouse!"

"Heavenforbid!Whatisknown?"

"Whatyouwouldgivetheworldtokeepfromher。Why，sir，themomentyoucautionedme，ofcourseIsawtherewastrouble。ButlittleIthought——sir，notaservantinthekitchenorthestablebutknowsthatherhusband——poorthing!poorthing!——Ah!theregoesthehousemaid——tohavealookather。"

"Stopher!"

Mrs。Briscoehadnotwaitedforthis；sherushedafterthewoman，andtoldherMrs。Staineswassleeping，andtheroommustnotbeenteredonanyaccount。

"Oh，verywell，"saidthemaid，rathersullenly。

Mrs。Briscoesawherreturntothekitchen，andcamebacktoDr。

Staines；hewaspacingtheroomintormentsofanxiety。

"Doctor，"saidshe，"itistheoldstory:"Servants"friends，themaster"senemies。"Anoldservantcameheretogossipwithherfriendthecook(shenevercouldabideherwhiletheyweretogether，byallaccounts)，andtoldherthewholestoryofhisbeingdrownedatsea。"

Dr。Philipgroaned，"Cursedchatterbox!"saidhe。"Whatistobedone?Mustwebreakittohernow?Oh，ifIcouldonlybuyafewdaysmore!Thehearttobecrushedwhilethebodyisweak!Itistoocruel。Adviseme，Mrs。Briscoe。Youareanexperiencedwoman，andIthinkyouareakind-heartedwoman。"

"Well，sir，"saidMrs。Briscoe，"Ihadthenameofit，whenIwasyounger——beforeBriscoefailed，andItooktonursing；whichithardens，sir，byuse，andalongofthepatientsthemselves；forsickfolkarelumpsofselfishness；weseemoreofthemthanyoudo，sir。ButthisIWILLsay，"tisn"tselfishnessthatliesnowinthatroom，waitingfortheblowthatwillbringhertodeath"sdoor，I"msoreafraid；butasweet，gentle，thoughtfulcreature，aseversuppedsorrow；forIdon"tknowhow"tis，doctor，norwhy"tis，butanangellikethathasalwaystosupsorrow。"

"Butyoudonotadviseme，"saidthedoctor，inagitation，"andsomethingmustbedone。"

"Adviseyou，sir；itisnotformetodothat。IamsureI"matmywits"ends，poorthing!Well，sir，Idon"tseewhatyoucando，buttryandbreakittoher。Betterso，thanletitcometoherlikeaclapofthunder。ButIthink，sir，I"dhaveawet-nurseready，beforeIsaidmuch:forsheisveryquick——andtentoonebutthefirstwordofsuchathingturnsherbloodtogall。Sir，I

onceknewapoorwoman——shewasacarpenter"swife——a-nursingherchildintheafternoon——andinrunsafoolishwoman，andtellsherhewaskilleddead，offascaffold。"Twastheman"ssistertoldher。Well，sir，shewasknockedstupidlike，andshesatstaring，andnursingofherchild，beforeshecouldtakeitinrightly。Thechildwasdeadbeforesupper-time，andthewomanwasnotlongafter。Thewholefamilywassweptaway，sir，inafewhours，andI

mindthetablewasnotclearedhehaddinedon，whentheycametolaythemout。Well-a-day，nursesseesorrow!"

"Weallseesorrowthatlivelong，Mrs。Briscoe。Iamheart-brokenmyself；Iamdesperate。Youareagoodsoul，andI"lltellyou。

Whenmynephewmarriedthispoorgirl，Iwasveryangrywithhim；

andIsoonfoundshewasnotfittobeastrugglingman"swife；andthenIwasveryangrywithher。Shehadspoiledafirst-ratephysician，Ithought。But，sinceIknewherbetter，itisallchanged。Sheissolovable。HowIshallevertellherthisterriblething，Godknows。AllIknowis，thatIwillnotthrowachanceaway。HerbodySHALLbestronger，beforeIbreakherheart。

Cursedidiots，thatcouldnotsaveasingleman，withtheirboats，inacalmsea!Lordforgivemeforblamingpeople，whenIwasnottheretosee。IsayIwillgivehereverychance。Sheshallnotknowittillsheisstronger:no，notifIliveatherdoor，andsleepthere，andall。GoodGod!inspiremewithsomething。Thereisalwayssomethingtobedone，ifonecouldbutseeit。"

Mrs。Briscoesighedandsaid，"Sir，Ithinkanythingisbetterthanforhertohearitfromaservant——andtheyaresuretoblurtitout。Youngwomenaresuchfools。"

"No，no；Iseewhatitis，"saidDr。Philip。"Ihavegoneallwrongfromthefirst。Ihavebeenactinglikeawoman，whenI

shouldhaveactedlikeaman。Why，IonlytrustedYOUbyhalves。

Therewasafoolforyou。Nevertrustpeoplebyhalves。"

"Thatistrue，sir。"

"Well，then，nowIshallgoatitlikeaman。Ihaveavileopinionofservants；butnomatter。I"lltrythem:theyarehuman，Isuppose。I"llhitthembetweentheeyeslikeaman。Gotothekitchen，Mrs。Briscoe，andtellthemIwishtospeaktoalltheservants，indoorsorout。"

"Yes，sir。"

Shestoppedatthedoor，andsaid，"Ihadbettergetbacktoher，assoonasIhavetoldthem。"

"Certainly。"

"AndwhatshallItellher，sir?Herfirstwordwillbetoaskmewhatyouwantedmefor。Isawthatinhereye。Shewascurious:

thatiswhyshesentmeafteryousoquick。"

Dr。Philipgroaned。Hefelthewaswalkingamongpitfalls。Herapidlyflavoredsomedistilledwaterwithorange-flower，thentinteditabeautifulpink，andbottledit。"There，"saidhe；"I

wasmixinganewmedicine。Tablespoon，fourtimesaday:hadtofilterit。Anylieyoulike。"

Mrs。Briscoewenttothekitchen，andgavehermessage:thenwenttoMrs。Staineswiththemixture。

Dr。Philipwentdowntothekitchen，andspoketotheservantsverysolemnly。Hesaid，"Mygoodfriends，Iamcometoaskyourhelpinamatteroflifeanddeath。Thereisapooryoungwomanup-stairs；

sheisawidow，anddoesnotknowit；andmustnotknowityet。Iftheblowfellnow，Ithinkitwouldkillher:indeed，ifshehearsitallofasudden，atanytime，thatmightdestroyher。Weareinsosoreastraitthatafeathermayturnthescale。Sowemusttryallwecantogainalittletime，andthentrusttoGod"smercyafterall。Well，now，whatdoyousay?Willyouhelpmekeepitfromher，tillthetenthofMarch，say?andthenIwillbreakittoherbydegrees。Forgetsheisyourmistress。Masterandservant，thatisallverywellatapropertime；butthisisthetimetoremembernothingbutthatweareallonefleshandblood。Weliedowntogetherinthechurchyard，andwehopetorisetogetherwheretherewillbenomasterandservant。Thinkofthepoorunfortunatecreatureasyourownfleshandblood，andtellme，willyouhelpmetryandsaveher，underthisterribleblow?"

"Ay，doctor，thatwewill，"saidthefootman。"Onlyyougiveusourorders，andyouwillsee。"

"Ihavenorighttogiveyouorders；butIentreatyounottoshowherbywordorlook，thatcalamityisuponher。Alas!itisonlyareprieveyoucangiveherandtome。ThebitterhourMUSTcomewhenImusttellhersheisawidow，andherboyanorphan。Whenthatdaycomes，IwillaskyoualltoprayformethatImayfindwords。ButnowIaskyoutogivemethattendays"reprieve。Letthepoorcreaturerecoveralittlestrength，beforethethunderboltofafflictionfallsonherhead。Willyoupromiseme?"

Theypromisedheartily；andmorethanoneofthewomenbegantocry。

"Ageneralassentwillnotsatisfyme，"saidDr。Philip。"Iwanteveryman，andeverywoman，togivemeahanduponit；thenIshallfeelsureofyou。"

Themengavehimtheirhandsatonce。Thewomenwipedtheirhandswiththeiraprons，tomakesuretheywereclean，andgavehimtheirhandstoo。Thecooksaid，"Ifanyoneofusgoesfromit，thiskitchenwillbetoohottoholdher。"

"Nobodywillgofromit，cook，"saidthedoctor。"I"mnotafraidofthat；andnowsinceyouhavepromisedme，outofyourowngoodhearts，I"lltryandbeevenwithyou。IfsheknowsnothingofitbythetenthofMarch，fiveguineastoeverymanandwomaninthiskitchen。Youshallseethat，ifyoucanbekind，wecanbegrateful。"

Hethenhurriedaway。HefoundMr。Lusignaninthedrawing-room，andtoldhimallthis。Lusignanwasfluttered，butgrateful。"Ah，mygoodfriend，"saidhe，"thisisahardtrialtotwooldmen，likeyouandme。"

"Itis，"saidPhilip。"Ithasshownmemyage。IdeclareIamtrembling；I，whosenerveswereiron。ButIhaveaparticularcontemptforservants。Mercenarywretches!IthinkHeaveninspiredmetotalktothem。Afterall，whoknows?perhapswemightfindawaytotheirhearts，ifwedidnoteternallyshocktheirvanity，andforgetthatitis，andmustbe，fargreaterthanourown。Thewomengavemetheirtears，andthemenwereearnest。

Notonehandlaycoldinmine。Asforyourkitchen-maid，I"dtrustmylifetothatgirl。Whatagripshegaveme!Whatstrength!

Whatfidelitywasinit!MyhandwasneverGRASPEDbefore。I

thinkwearesafeforafewdaysmore。"

Lusignansighed。"Whatdoesitallcometo?Wearepullingthetriggergently，thatisall。"

"No，no；thatisnotit。Don"tletusconfoundthematterwithsimiles，please。Keepthemforchildren。"

Mrs。Stainesleftherbed；andwouldhaveleftherroom，butDr。

Philipforbadeitstrictly。

Oneday，seatedinherarm-chair，shesaidtothenurse，beforeDr。

Philip，"Nurse，whydotheservantslooksocuriouslyatme?"

Mrs。BriscoecastahastyglanceatDr。Philip，andthensaid，"I

don"tknow，madam。Inevernoticedthat。"

"Uncle，whydidnurselookatyoubeforesheansweredsuchasimplequestion?"

"Idon"tknow。Whatquestion?"

"Abouttheservants。"

"Oh，abouttheservants!"saidhecontemptuously。

"Youshouldnotturnupyournoseatthem，fortheyareallmostkindandattentive。Only，Icatchthemlookingatmesostrangely；

really——asifthey——"

"Rosa，youaretakingmequiteoutofmydepth。Thelooksofservantgirls!Why，ofcoursealadyinyourconditionisanobjectofespecialinteresttothem。Idaresaytheyaresayingtooneanother，"Iwonderwhenmyturnwillcome!"Afellow-feelingmakesuswondrouskind——thatisaproverb，isitnot?"

"Tobesure。Iforgotthat。"

Shesaidnomore；butseemedthoughtful，andnotquitesatisfied。