“Or _what_?” Guy asked, as she read to him what she had written. “Maddy Clyde will not be waiting-maid in this house, neither will she come for one dollar per week, as you propose. I hire her myself. I have taken a fancy to the girl. Write another note; substitute companion for waiting-maid, and offer her three dollars per week, instead of one.” As long as Guy paid the bill, Agnes could not demur to the price, although, remembering a time when she had taught a district school for one dollar per week and boarded ‘round besides, she thought three dollars far too much. But Guy had commanded, and she generally obeyed him, so she wrote another note, which he approved, and, sealing it up, sent it by a servant to Madeline. CHAPTER IX. THE DECISION. The reception of Agnes’s note produced quite a commotion at the red cottage, where various opinions were expressed as to the prime mover of the plan; grandpa thinking that as Mrs. Agnes wrote the note, and was most interested in it, she of course had suggested it; grandma insisting that it was Jessie’s doings, while Maddy, when she said anything, agreed with her grandmother, though away down in her heart was a half belief that Mr. Guy himself had first thought of having her at Aikenside, where she would rather go than to any other spot in the wide world; to Aikenside, with its beautiful lawn almost large enough to be called a park, with its shaded paths and winding walks, its flowers and vines, its fountains and statuary, its fish-pond and grove, its airy rooms, its wide hall, its winding stairs, with banisters of rosewood, its cupola at the top, from which so many miles of hill and meadow land could be discerned, its bay-windows and long piazzas, its sweet-faced, dark-haired Jessie, and its manly, noble Guy. Only the image of Agnes, flashing in silk and diamonds, was a flaw in the picture. From thoughts of her Maddy had insensibly shrank, until she met her in the carriage, and then received the note asking her services. These events wrought in her a change, and dread of Mrs. Agnes passed away. She should like her, and she should be so happy at Aikenside, for of course she was going, and she began to wish the doctor would come, so as to tell her how long before she would be strong enough to enter upon her duties as teacher to little Jessie.