Jane stared at her in astonishment. “What do you mean, Morgan?” “I mean, ma’am, that I have had no wages for these eleven years last past, and I wish to have them now.” “Morgan, I think you have lost your senses! You never asked my father for these wages.” “No, Miss Jane, because I held his promise of being provided for otherwise and better, and my little money from elsewhere was all that I wanted while here. But I have it under your hand, ma’am, what wages I was to have as long as I lived with you.” “And you have my promise also that I would remember you in my will.” “Yes; but I would rather have my due wages now instead.” Jane could understand nothing of all this. People were not accustomed to be asked for money in so abrupt a way, especially by an old friend. “Because, ma’am, people of my class are not often so much in want of their money as I am to-day. If I had not known that you have the money in the house, I should not have asked for it so suddenly. I will bring down the box, ma’am.” She presently appeared, hauling along a heavy box with so much difficulty as to oblige Jane to offer to assist her. Morgan next presented a key. “How came you by this key?” asked Jane, quickly, as she tried it, and the box lid flew open. Jane felt in her bosom for her own key, which was there, safe enough, on its stout black ribbon. Morgan’s master had secretly given her this key years before. He kept one thousand pounds in hard cash in this box; and it now appeared that he had set Morgan’s fidelity and Jane’s avarice as a check upon each other. Each was to count over the money once a-month. “You can count it now, ma’am, at your leisure, when you have paid me. I shall not touch that key any more.” “O, yes, do, Morgan,” said her mistress, with a look of distress. “All this is too much for me. I cannot take care of everything myself.” “Then let it go, Miss Jane. I have not had this box under my charge so many years, to be now followed about by your eyes, every time I go near the place where it is kept. Better you were robbed than that.” “And you are too proud to expect a legacy from me? That is the reason you want your money now? You would cut off all connexion between us?” “Such is not my present reason, ma’am; but I do not say that I should like to see you planning and planning how you could——But I won’t follow it out, my dear. My wages, if you please.” And she laid down a formal receipt for the sum, and produced the canvass bag in which to deposit her wealth. She then observed that she must walk abroad for two or three hours, but hoped to be back before she was much wanted. If her mistress could spare her till dark, she should take it as a particular favour; but she could not say it was necessary to be gone more than three hours at farthest. Jane seemed too much displeased or amazed to reply; and Morgan left her counting the guineas. She heard the parlour-door bolted behind her, so that no more Maries could gain access to her mistress.