“If she'll let me be I'll not say anything,” said Fan. “Very well, miss, she won't trouble you no more. But, lors, she don't mean no harm; it's only her little funny ways.” And having thus explained and smoothed matters over, she went off to the kitchen. About five o'clock Miss Starbrow came in and found Fan still sitting by the open window in the darkening room. “Why, my poor girl, you must be half frozen,” she said, coming to the sofa. But how little Fan felt the chill evening air, when she started up at the kind greeting, her eyes brightening and her face flushing with that strange new happiness now warming her blood and making her heart beat quick! “Oh no, ma'am, I'm not a bit cold,” she said. The other pulled off her glove and touched the girl's cheek with her fingers. “Your skin feels cold enough, anyhow,” she returned. “Come into my room; it is warmer there.” Fan followed into the adjoining large bedroom, where a bright fire was burning in the grate; and Miss Starbrow, taking off her hat and cloak, sat down. After regarding the girl for some time in silence, she said with a little laugh, “What can I do with you, Fan?” Fan was troubled at this, and glanced anxiously at the other's face, only to drop her eyes abashed again; but at last, plucking up a little courage, she said: “Will you please let me do something in the house, ma'am?” And after a few moments she added, “I wish I could do something, and--and be your servant.” Miss Starbrow laughed again, and then frowned a little and sat silent for some time. “The fact is,” she said at length, “now that you are here I don't quite know what to do with you. However, that doesn't signify. I took you for my own pleasure, and it doesn't make much difference to have you in the house, and if it did I shouldn't care. But you must look after yourself for the present, as I have just got rid of one servant and there are only two to do everything. They are anxious for me not to engage a third just now, and prefer to do all the work themselves, which means, I suppose, that there will be more plunder to divide between them.” “And can't I help, ma'am?” said Fan, whose last words had not yet been answered. “I fancy you would look out of place doing housework,” said Miss Starbrow. “It strikes me that you are not suited for that sort of thing. If it hadn't been so, I shouldn't have noticed you. The only way in which I should care to employ you would be as lady's-maid, and for that you are unfit. Perhaps I shall have you taught needlework and that kind of thing by-and-by, but I am not going to bother about it just now. For the present we must jog along just how we can, and you must try to make yourself as happy as you can by yourself.” Just then the housemaid came up with tea for her mistress. “Get me another cup--a large one, and some more bread-and-butter,” said Miss Starbrow. “The young person's tea is in the back room, ma'am,” returned Rosie, with a tremor in her voice.