For a minute Dolly remained silent. She had a vision of the kind of paragon Mrs. Werner affected in her own household. Lean, middle-aged, cold, prudish, particular, respectful, and respectable, who would secretly be shocked at poor Dolly's ideas, manners, habits; who would not like being put out of her way, and who would remark to the other servants she had never lived with so flighty a lady as Mrs. Mortomley before, and had expected from Mrs. Werner's recommendation to find Homewood a quiet place, instead of being always full of company, as was the case. All this passed through Mrs. Mortomley's mind, and she hesitated; then she remembered the spectacle her drawers and wardrobes and boxes presented at that moment, and asked: "Who is she?" "She is a very superior young woman, as far as I can judge," was the answer. "I hate superior young women," commented Dolly. "She has been living with Mrs. Seymour," continued Mrs. Werner, as calmly as if Mrs. Mortomley had not spoken; "but she was not strong enough for the place." "I should think not," remarked Dolly. "Mrs. Seymour forgets servants are but flesh and blood after all." "So she left a few days since, and is now at home. I promised to send to her if I heard of any situation likely to suit. I do not fancy she is very clever, but she gives me the idea of being faithful and willing. I think you might give her a trial." "If she found the work too much at Mrs. Seymour's, she would find it too much with me. There is a great deal to do at Homewood, Nora." Mrs. Werner laughed. "I have no doubt of that, Dolly. Wherever there is bad management there must be work. But the work under you would not be the same as work under a mistress with a bad temper." "Well, there is something in that," agreed Dolly thoughtfully. "I do not think I have a bad temper except just now and then." She was sitting in Mrs. Werner's gorgeous drawing-room as she said this, and her eyes rested as she spoke on a great vase of flowers which somehow brought back the gardens of Lord Darsham's place to memory. Those gardens had once belonged to the Mortomleys. Was it owing to having married such women as herself the Mortomleys were sunk so low? Dolly asked herself this question solemnly, while Mrs. Werner remained silent; then Mrs. Werner's hand rested on hers caressingly. "Dolly," she said, "I only wish I had such a temper as you possess. My dear, you win love where I cannot." "Ay, Leonora," was the reply, "but what is love without respect? You love, but you never respected me. I love and respect you too." "Dolly, darling"--thus Mrs. Werner,--"I have an uneasy feeling that some day it may be necessary for me to remark I have misjudged you all through our acquaintanceship. But how we are drifting! What about the maid?" "I will take her." "Without an interview?"