talked to me--indeed, he was seldom in a condition to be talked to. Had she been other than she was, I should have felt her presence a great relief to come between us thus, except, indeed, that I should have been thoroughly ashamed for any decent person to see him as he often was.

I did not mention my suspicions to Rachel; but she, having sojourned for half a century in this land of sin and sorrow, has learned to be suspicious herself. She told me from the first she was `down of' that new governess,' and I soon found she watched her quite as narrowly as I did; and I was glad of it, for I longed to know the truth: the atmosphere of Grassdale seemed to stifle me, and I could only live by thinking of Wildfell Hall.

At last, one morning, she entered my chamber with such intelligence that my resolution was taken before she had ceased to speak. While she dressed me, I explained to her my intentions and what assistance I should require from her, and told her which of my things she was to pack up, and what she was to leave behind for herself, as I had no other means of recompencing her for this sudden dismissal, after her long and faithful service--a circumstance I most deeply regretted but could not avoid.

`And what will you do, Rachel?' said I--`will you go home, or seek another place?'

`I have no home, ma'am, but with you,' she replied; `and if I leave you, I'll never go into place again as long as I live.'

`But I can't afford to live like a lady, now,' returned I: `I must be my own maid and my child's nurse.

`What signifies?' replied she in some excitement. `You'll want somebody to clean and wash, and cook, won't you? I can do all that; and never mind the wages--I've my bits o' savings yet, and if you wouldn't take me, I should have to find my own board and lodging out of `em somewhere, or else work among strangers--and it's what I'm not used too you can please yourself ma'am.' Her voice quavered as she spoke, and the tears stood in her eyes.

`I should like it above all things, Rachel, and I'd give you such wages as I could afford--such as I should give to any servant of all work I might employ; but don't you see I should be dragging you down with me, when you have done nothing to deserve it?'

`Oh, fiddle!' ejaculated she.

`And besides, my future way of living will be so widely different to the past--so different to all you have been accustomed to--'

`Do you think, ma'am, I can't bear what my missis can?--surely I'm not so proud and so dainty as that comes tend my little master too, God bless him?'

`But I'm young, Rachel; I shan't mind it; and Arthur is young too--it will be nothing to him.'

`Nor me either: I'm not so old but what I can stand hard fare and hard work, if it's only to help and comfort them as I've loved like my own barns--for all I'm too old to bide the thoughts o' leaving `em in trouble and danger, and going amongst strangers myself.'

`Then you shan't, Rachel!' cried I, embracing my faithful friend. `We'll all go together, and you shall see how the new life suits you.

`Bless you, honey!' cried she affectionately returning my embrace. `Only let us get shut of this wicked house and we'll do right enough, you'll see.'

`So think I,' was my answer;--and so that point was settled.