she flied at higher game. She's a regular
crocodile—that's what's she is, ma'am;
the house hasn't been like itself since she
come; a-giving herself such airs, indeed!
To think that Mr. Lowndes should ha' spoke
to me so, which have had him on my
knee when he was eight year old — and all
along of a good-for-nothing creature like
that!"

"Oh, dear!" moaned Mrs. Cartaret,
dropping back into her pillows, and twisting
round so that she turned her back upon
Rouse, and drew the clothes half over her
head, as though to shut out, if possible, a
disagreeable subject. "Oh, dear! It is
very hard that I am never to have a maid
for three months, but something or other
happens. It is too bad of Lowndes, and
the girl suited me so well. It is shameful!
If he would but range himself, now, and
marry! But he shall. I will have it. Oh,
dear! I am so tired. I cannot talk any
more. There—go away, my good Rouse,
now, and leave me quiet for a little, and
say nothing of this. I will speak to
Mr. Lowndes by-and-bye, and don't let
the girl come to me till—till I have seen
him. There!"

Then she rolled herself up yet more
tightly, and Rouse knew that her mistress
had taken refuge in an old expedient
against further discussion. She left the
room. Two minutes afterwards Jane
delivered a message to Maud to say that Mrs.
Cartaret would ring when she wanted her
maid, and that the latter was not to go to
her mistress until then.

In the mean time, Lowndes, guessing
accurately what would occur, resolved to
take the bull by the horns. As soon as he
was dressed, he entered his mother's
bedroom. She pretended to be asleep: she
felt a moral coward in approaching this
subject with her son, and had not half
made up her mind yet what she would say
to him. But Lowndes was as ruthless as
Mrs. Rouse in his way.

"Come, mother, it's ten o'clock, and
time you were awake. I want to talk to
you."

"Eh? What's the matter? How you
disturb me!"

"Have you seen Rouse this morning?"

"Eh? seen Rouse? Well — yes, I have
seen her."

"Did she say anything to you about
me?"

With a sudden jerk Mrs. Cartaret
now unswathed herself, and sat erect in
bed. It was no longer possible to temporise:
the moment for vigorous action was
come.

"Yes, she did, Lowndes, and I was
shocked — shocked and grieved at what she
told me. Such conduct is to have no
respect for me and my house. And what is
the consequence? I must now send away a
girl who suited me in all respects, who was
a perfect treasure to me; but she must go,
for how can I keep about me any one whom
you regard — whom you treat in this sort
of way?"

"Now, that is just the point, mother,
just what I want to talk to you about. I
knew very well that old cat would move
heaven and earth to turn the girl out of
the house: and I want you to understand
that she is entirely blameless. What Rouse
saw was my fault: the girl had given me
no encouragement to behave as I did: I
was an idiot. After all, there was no such
great harm: I met her running down the
passage, in the dark, and I kissed her. I
was a confounded fool for my pains I
admit. I ought to have reflected that the
girl, so proud and modest as she is, would
resent this, and complain to you, as I feel
sure she will, and, in all probability, tell
you herself that she must go. But you
must insist upon her staying."

"Impossible! How can I, Lowndes? I
shall seem to wink at you! . . to encourage
immorality! Dapper, Rouse, what will
they think? . . . Hein?"

"Who cares what they think? Can't
you decide, for once in your life, whether
you will keep a servant or not, without
asking their permission?"

"Permission?" said his mother, bridling.
"No, it is not a question of permission, but
one must consider the qu'en dira-t-on.
They say, they imagine, Lowndes, that
there is more than this folly of yours last
night. They say you have been found
sitting and talking with her. Enfin! . . .
I am very sorry, it is a real trouble to me:
I shall never find such a maid again—
never! But I see it must not be. No. I
ought not to submit a young girl to
temptation, and she must go."

"I'll be hanged if she shall then. I'll
tell you what, mother: if you send her
away, I'll leave Beckworth to-morrow, and
won't return here this year."

"Oh!" cried the old lady, firing up.
"Vous le prenez sur ce ton là, monsieur
mon fils? Very well, then, go! Do not
let me keep you. If the girl is your
maîtresse, take her out of the house with
you, but——"