proved a great burden to her right side, and carried the kettle in the other hand, supposing, with the allowable freedom of an old servant, that Miss Farrer might be wishing for her tea a little earlier than usual, and that there could be no harm in saving her turns along the passage. “Ma’am, I’m afraid your rheumatism troubles you,” said she, seeing that Jane had drawn her shawl over her head. “I thought it would be so when you took the curtains down in such bitter weather.” “Never mind that, Morgan: I must meet more cold at sea.” “But you had better get well first, ma’am. Would you wish that I should step for Dr. Say?” and Morgan put some stiffness into her manner. Jane looked round upon the disfurnished apartment, and probably thought that it looked too comfortless to be seen by Dr. Say; for she desired that if he called he should be told that she was too tired to see any one. “I think, Morgan,” she proceeded, “there is nothing left but what you can take care of for me, if I must go in a hurry. It will hardly take you two hours to stow these few things with the rest of the furniture; and an hour or two of your time, now and then, will keep them in good order for me.” And then followed sundry directions about airing, dusting, brushing, &c., all which implied that Morgan would remain near at hand. “I have said nothing about your going with me,” continued Jane. “I suppose you never thought of it?” “I considered myself bound, Miss Jane, after what we once said together, to follow you for life, if you had so pleased. Since you do not——” “It would be too much for you, Morgan. I would not expose you to the risk, or to the fatigue. You know nothing of the fatigues of such a voyage as I am going upon. In a regular vessel it is very great; but——” “Ma’am, I have no wish to go otherwise than at your desire. I am old now, and——” “Yes, it will be much better for you to be with Patience, or with Henry.” “No, ma’am; if I leave you, it must be to go back to my own place. The same day that you dismiss me I shall plan my way home. I do not wish to be turned over from service to service, knowing that I shall never attach myself to any as I did, from the first, to you, my dear.” “But what will you do with yourself in Wales? Everybody you knew there must be dead, or grown up out of knowledge.”