“Aunt Ruxley has taken a great shine to you, so to speak,” she resumed, “and has commissioned me to ask you if you would be willing to remain with her as her companion? Wait, if you please, until I get through, Miss Dundas, before you decide,” she said, as Brownie looked up in surprise, and then went on, as if she supposed the young girl possessed of no feeling or delicacy: “I do not approve of the plan myself; I never believed in engaging any one in this way, for she says you have no recommendation or credentials beyond your own word. But she has set her heart upon it, and seems to think you will be willing to remain. It is very difficult to get any one of the right sort who is willing to stay and do for her what she requires, on account of her peculiarities. We have tried several during the last two years. Now, if you think you would like the place, and would exert yourself to please her, we will overlook your lack of credentials, and I think we can arrange to give you the situation. Your salary would be fifty pounds a year. Of course we do not expect,” she hastened to add, “that you can do very much until you get strong, and we will make every allowance for that.” Brownie was disgusted with the woman’s coarseness, and felt more like refusing the offer than accepting it, but what could she do? It seemed like flying in the face of Providence to reject it. She had no credentials, and no good family having children would engage her without, and she knew she was likely to fare no better, if as well, if she returned to her native land, unless she should acknowledge she had failed in her great undertaking, and fall back upon Mr. Conrad’s offer to give her a home. So, after thinking the matter over carefully, she decided to accept Lady Randal’s offer. “Does Lady Ruxley remain in town most of the year?” she asked, before giving her answer. “Oh, no. I ought to have mentioned that we all leave town in a few weeks for our country seat in Kent County, where Lady Ruxley has a house of her own, preferring to live alone rather than endure the noise and confusion of Vallingham Hall. Do you object to the country?” “Oh, no, I like it.” This intelligence relieved Brownie greatly, for she felt as if she could scarcely endure to live in the same house with this woman. “It may be a little lonely for you at first,” Lady Randal added, “but aunt frequently pays a visit at the Hall, for she likes to know what is going on in the world, I assure you, if she does live alone with her servants most of the time.” “I will accept this position, Lady Randal, and if I can make Lady Ruxley’s life more pleasant than it has been I shall be very thankful,” Brownie said, gravely, yet a little proudly. She did not fancy her visitor’s patronizing, almost insolent manner, and inwardly resented her bold, fixed stare.