BUSINESS AT THE LODGE.

153

not likely to be a clever lady's-maid without some initiation into her business.'

'Exactly, Auntie; I know all that, but I think I shall like her.' And she set off on her errand, meeting a wolf in the hall in the mild form of the mild Sir Lionel, who expressed his surprise that she was not with Bryant.

'I did go, but I didn't stay with him,' returned May; 'you wouldn't wish me to do what I particularly dislike ?' she asked, raising herself on tip-toe, conscious of the power of a caress to make all straight with him (she was always a child with Sir Lionel).

'My jewel, my fairy!' he exclaimed, his accent evidencing uneasiness; 'you must not be too hard upon the poor young fellow he thinks a great deal of you!'

'I am going to settle about Alsie coming to me as my maid,' she interrupted abruptly. Auntie thinks she will do, and I shall like her better than a stranger. If you would walk with me I should so like it.'

Sir Lionel was quite willing, and they set off together, May amusing him by the way with a list of Alsie's accomplishments, until he stopped her by commendations of her generosity, in having appropriated so much of her pocket-money for the girl's education, which praise May was not inclined to accept.

They found Alsie neatly dressed, sitting at work, making a gown for her mother; and on May's disclosing the object of her visit her pretty face flushed with pleasure.

Mrs. Burton, who was 'tidying up a bit,' listened with pride to the projected change in her daughter's fortune, and expressed her opinion that Alsie would be as nice a maid as could be when she had no work to make her draggle-tailed, adding, with a curtsey every now and then by way of gratitude

or apology, that 'She had took to the young lady ever sin' the poor boy's accident.'

Sir Lionel expressed his hope that the arrangement would prove satisfactory, and pointing out May's gifts to old Bettie, who had been amusing herself dusting and re-dusting every seat in the room, seemed in a hurry to be gone.

'Come up to see my aunt this evening,' said May, addressing Alsie, who stood looking intelligent, and conscious of her mother's unscholarly speech.

The girl assented, and as they left the cottage May made some remark as to her fitness, in appearance at least, for the post about to be assigned to her, whereupon Sir Lionel again flattered her by saying that it was she who had been the making of the girl; but May was in a sensible mood, and his praises fell harmlessly on her ear. For praise to be acceptable to her, she must feel it to be deserved.

'Who is that just leaving the Warren?' she asked, as a tall slight figure, in clerical garb, moved away in a direction contrary to the one by which they were approaching it.

'By his coat I should take him to be a friend of Bryant's,' returned Sir Lionel.

'He looks too much of a gentleman,' said May. There is something refined and graceful in his outline: look at it against the sky. "A grace beyond the rules of art," she quoted, laughing.

E left Helen standing in the hall of the abbey, having

failed in her attempt at reconciliation with Lord

Agramont.

This is a bitter punishment for so small an offence,' she thought, as she tried in vain to steady the irregular pulsations of her heart. A proud look of despondency sat on her handsome face, while she endeavoured to convince herself that there was nothing in life worth the anxiety that had been weighing upon her. With an unreasoning sense of wounded affection, she made her way to the sanctuary of her own room, but there concluding with practical philosophy that while nothing could be done it would be unprofitable to sit down listlessly and weep, that the most likely thing to afford relief would be interesting occupation, she made a strong effort for composure, and joined her sister in the study.

Taking her books, a perennial resource, she determined that no excuse should be needed on the next occasion of Mr. Harrington's attendance, and was interestedly turning over the leaves of a lexicon, when Miss Aberley entered the room.

'I am glad to see you at work, dear Helen,' she said, with a satisfied look at her pupil. When you are not inclined for study, I always know that mind and body are not properly balanced-that one or other is out of order. Do you want any help?'

'Thank you; I must get on without you now. You have not spoken to Lord Agramont yet?'

'No; but I have just had a letter from the friends going to India, to say that they start in less than a month. If we wish to gain our point, I must make it plain to him that there is every security for your being well taken care of, and it will therefore be necessary to enter fully into particulars. I am delaying until I can write quite leisurely.'

Another stab at poor Helen! It seemed as if she was to be reminded of her injustice and ingratitude.

'You do not know Madame de Bernonville?' Helen inquired.

'Not at all, except from report. The daughters of several Indian friends of mine have been under her care, and I have always heard her spoken of as a woman of considerable talent, and her household as well ordered. It is quite my impression that she would take care that you did not lose your time, being sufficiently intellectual herself to detect any want of depth or talent in her masters. The only drawback I see to the plan is, that Fan is rather young to mix with those whose principles are not founded on the same basis as our own. Madame de Bernonville is a Roman Catholic; and although she never interferes with the religious education of her pupils, her style of thought is not likely to be quite in accordance with our views. You will have Dr. Milman, a friend of Lord Agramont's, for your counsellor; and I can only hope no evil will result.'

PLANS ACQUIESCED IN.

157 Miss Aberley was a formalist in matters of religion, but had never brought it to bear on the small circumstances of everyday life, and therefore had not taught her pupils to do so. The danger thus hinted at seemed in consequence very unimportant to Helen, who replied with decision that she thought it was the very best thing they could do, adding, affectionately,

"Wherever we are we shall feel the want of you; but I have been wishing to see something of other countries, and now this opportunity has offered I should not like to neglect it.'

Miss Aberley agreed that a change might be beneficial, and left her, to write a letter to Lord Agramont, acquainting him with the summons she had received, and proposing the plans above mentioned, and offering, should it coincide with his views respecting them, to see her pupils safely under Madame de Bernonville's roof before she left Europe. So complete were the arrangements she suggested that Lord Agramont immediately returned a note of thanks for her consideration, acknowledging the practicability of her plans, and promising, if, upon talking them fully over with both the girls, they cordially acquiesced in them, at once to communicate with an old college friend of his, who was at that time acting as minister in one of the Protestant chapels in Paris, and request him to inquire particulars of Madame de Bernonville's establishment.

As Helen heard this letter read, and observed his careful regard to their wishes being consulted in the arrangement, she experienced a feeling of dire anxiety lest she should have to go away without a word of forgiveness, and came to the conclusion that it could not be-that she must write if she could find no other way of access to him.

Miss Aberley acted upon the letter of Lord Agramont's directions, by talking more fully over her scheme with her pupils