Holdfast dismissed her, desiring her to call again on the following day--this morning. I ascertained to-day that Mrs. Holdfast called at the address, and received the answers prepared for her. I must tell you what Mrs. Preedy said to me during the evening. "My dear, you are not what you pretend to be." I gave her a spirited answer, knowing by this time how to manage her. "You are a clever woman," I replied, looking at her admiringly; "you have guessed my secret; not one in a thousand would have done it. I am _not_ a servant-of-all-work, and I came here to be out of the way, let me say, of my young man. Well now, there's no harm in that, is there?" "Not a bit of harm," she said. "But what is it all about?" "I can't tell you just now," I said. "You may be certain of one thing. If things go on as they've been going on lately, you will be none the worse off for it. If I don't go into partnership with you, I shall make you a very handsome present, and I shan't ask you for any wages. I have broken a lot of things since I've been here, but I've bought new ones in their place. Mrs. Preedy, you leave everything to me, and I will show you that Becky can be grateful." "Well, my dear," said Mrs. Preedy, "so long as there's no harm done, I don't mind. You're a good sort, and I dare say have seen a lot of trouble. So have I. Women are born to be imposed upon." "Does our young man lodger pay his rent regularly?" I asked, pretending to know nothing. "My dear," said Mrs. Preedy, sadly, "since he has lived here I haven't seen the colour of his money." "Now," I said, smiling, "suppose I pay it for him. Not for his sake--for yours. I'm not sweet on him, though he pretends to be on me. It's a shame that you should be taken in by a foreign gentleman like him--you can't afford it." I found out how many weeks' rent he owed, and I paid it. I don't think anything is wanting to complete the conquest of my mistress's heart. You see I am spending some of the money you gave me; I couldn't get along without it. To-day Mrs. Holdfast received Fanny very graciously, called her a nice little thing, said she was growing quite fond of her, and was almost inclined to take her into the house to live with her. "Oh, how I wish you would!" cried Fanny. However, it appears that at present Mrs. Holdfast, even if she is in earnest, cannot take Fanny into her house. If it _were_ done Fanny would find a way to communicate with me, and tell me all that is going on. Mrs. Holdfast expressed great curiosity about Fanny's sister, and asked the child whether Nelly did not give her an address to write to. "O, yes," said Fanny, prepared for any emergency; "Nelly's gone to Paris. She said I might write to her at the post-office there."