fraid to engage me. Most of my money was gone, and after I'd boarded for two months, hanging about the employment-agencies, and answering any advertisement that looked any way

he was one that had always a friendly way with her. She asked me what ailed me to look so white, and when I told he

. Brympton, a youngish lady, but something of an invalid, who lived all the year round at

yourself just now, are you? and a quiet place, with country air and wholesome food and early hours, ought to be the very thing for you. Don't mistake me," she added, for I suppose I looked a trifle downcast; "you may find it dull, but you won't be unhappy. My niece is an angel. Her former maid, who died last spring, had been with her twenty years and worshipped the ground she walked on. She's a kind mistress to all, and where the mistress is kind, a

aid, "I'm not afr

legraph her at once and you can take the afternoon train. She has no

thing in me hung back; and to gain ti

d Mrs. Ralston, quick-like-"and when he's there," say

day, with rain hanging close overhead, and by the time we turned into the Brympton Place woods the daylight was almost gone. The drive wound through the woods for a m

yself. But I could tell by the look of everything that I had got into the right kind of house, and that things were done handsomely. A pleasant-face

rt of the house seemed well-furnished, with dark panelling and a number of old portraits. Another flight of stairs led us up to the servants' wing. It was almost dark now, and the house-maid excuse

r. She was a thin woman with a white face, and a darkish stuff gown and apron. I took her for the housekeeper and thought it odd that she didn't speak, but just gave me a l

eft that door open agai

inder the h

ekeeper: Mrs. Bl

that h

obody's room. It's empty, I mean, and the door hadn't

e or two on the walls; and having lit a candle she took leave, telling me that

dn't show herself, however, and I wondered if she ate apart; but if she wasn't the housekeeper, why should she? Suddenly it struck me that she might be a trained nurse, and in that case her meals would of course be served in her room. If Mrs. Brympton was an invalid it was likely enoug

man: "Has Mr. Ranford gone?" and when he said yes,

e-looking lady, but when she smiled I felt there was nothing I wouldn't do for her. She spoke very pleasantly, in a low voice,

rds surprised me when I'd spoken them, for I'm not an i

e mind; then she gave me a few directions about her toilet, and said A

gnes will bring me my tray, that you may have time to unpack

," I said. "You'l

t she lo

," says she quickly, and

e house; but the next day I satisfied myself that there was one in every room, and a special one ringing from my mistress's room to mine; and after that it

dreaming. To be sure, it was dusk when we went down the passage, and she had excused herself for not bringing a light; but I had seen the woman plain enough to know her again if we should meet. I decided that she must have been a friend of the cook's, or of one of t

en longer in the house than the other servants, and she asked me if I was quite comfortable and had everything I needed. I said I had no f

s one; the room you're in

where did the other

hat the servants' rooms had all been changed ab

iced: "Well, there's a vacant room opposite mine, and I mean

"Don't do that, my dear," said she, trembling-like. "To tell you the truth, tha

was Emm

pton's for

any years?" said I, remembering

linder

t of woma

said Mrs. Blinder. "My mistr

what did she

at hand at describing," she said; "and I believe my pastry's risin