f the most promising character.
I had therefore risen and was preparing myself in an abstracted way for breakfast, when I was violently interrupted by a resounding knock at the door. Alarmed, I scarcely knew why, I hastened to open it, and fell back in very visible astonishment when I beheld standing before me no less a person than Anice, the late Mrs. Pollard’s maid.
“I wanted to see you, miss,” she said, coming in without an invitation, and carefully closing the door behind her. “So, as I had leave to attend AC Milan Women Jersey early mass this morning, I just slipped over here, which, if it is a Dales Liddesdale Quilted Takki Suomi liberty, I hope you will pardon, seeing it is for your own good.”
Not much encouraged by this preamble, I motioned her to take a seat, and then, turning my back to her, went on arranging my hair.
“I cannot imagine Pittsburgh Penguins Lippikset what errand you have with me, Anice,” said I; “but if it is any thing important, let me hear it at once, as I have an engagement this morning, and am in haste.”
A smile, which I could plainly see in the mirror before which I stood, passed slyly over her face. She took up her parasol from her lap, then laid it down again, and altogether showed considerable embarrassment. But it did not last long, and in another moment she was saying, in quite a bold way:
“You took my place beside the mistress I loved, but I don’t bear you Spain Jersey no grudge, Moncler Epine Suomi miss. On the contrary, I would do you a good turn; for what are we here for, miss, if it’s not to help one another?”
As I had no answer for this worthy sentiment, she Moncler Cachalot Suomi lapsed again into her former embarrassed state and as speedily recovered from it. Simpering in a manner that unconsciously put me on my guard, she remarked:
“You left us very suddenly yesterday, miss. Of course that is your own business, and I have nothing to say against it. But I thought if you knew what might be gained by staying —” She paused and gave me a look that was almost like an appeal.
But I would not help her out.
“Why,” she went on desperately, with a backward toss of her head, “you might think as how we was not such very bad folks after all. I am sure you would make a very nice mistress to work for, Miss Sterling,” she simpered; “and if you would just let me help you with your hair as I did old Mrs. Pollard —”
Angry, mortified, and ashamed of myself that I had listened to her so far, I turned on her with a look that seemed to make some impression even upon her.
“How dare you —” I began, then paused, shocked at my own imprudence in thus betraying the depth of the feelings she had aroused. “I beg your pardon,” I immediately added, recovering my composure by a determined effort; “you doubtless did not consider that you are not in a position to speak such words to me. Even if your insinuations meant any thing serious, which I will not believe, our acquaintance”— I am afraid I threw some sarcasm into Moncler Nantes Suomi that word —“has scarcely been long enough to warrant you in approaching me on any subject of a personal nature, least of all one that in |