"Certainly. Mrs. Seymour was satisfied; you are satisfied. Who am I that I should not be satisfied also? Send the girl to me. I will do the best I can with her." "Faults and all, Dolly?" "Leonora, I love people who are faultless; but it is in my nature to adore those who are full of faults." "Meaning--" suggested Mrs. Werner. "We need not particularise," was the reply; "but if we need, I may just say, much as I like you, I should like you better if I could discover one human failing. Now, you have no human failing except your friendship for me." "Do you really mean, Dolly, you will accept this young woman, without seeing her, on my recommendation?" said Mrs. Werner ignoring Dolly's personal remark. "Of course. All I am afraid of is that her pitch will be a few tones above mine." Mrs. Werner smiled. "The girl would not suit me, Dolly; but she will suit you. Spoil her to your heart's content, and you will not spoil her so far as to prevent her becoming afterwards a good wife and mother." "Then, you had better write to her," said Mrs. Mortomley. "No; you had better write," suggested Mrs. Werner. Whereupon Mrs. Mortomley wrote:-- "Mrs. Werner having recommended (what is the girl's name, Nora?) Esther Hummerson to Mrs. Mortomley in the capacity (what a fine word that is for me to use) of lady's maid, Mrs. Mortomley will be glad if Esther Hummerson can enter upon her duties at once." To which letter Mrs. Mortomley received the following reply:-- "Esther Hummerson presents her duty to Mrs. Mortomley, and I will enter upon your service next Tuesday evening, the 17th. "With much respect, "Your humble servant, "E. HUMMERSON." It was quite natural for Dolly to forget all about the advent of the new maid; to be taken entirely by surprise when it was announced that a young woman (Hummerson by name) was in the hall and wanted to speak to her. But, in a moment, Dolly remembered. Mrs. Mortomley was in _demi-toilette_ at that moment. A brown silk dress cut square in the front, skirt trailing behind her over the oilcloth in the hall, plain gold bracelets, plain gold necklet with cross set in turquoise depending. To Esther Hummerson she fluttered. "I do hope you will be comfortable with me," she said. "And this is your Aunt who has come with you? Jane" (this to the parlour-maid), "see that Esther's aunt has something to eat; and--what is the name of your aunt? oh! Mrs. Bush; if you would like to stay here for the night, we will try to make you comfortable. No. Well, then, good evening; and to-morrow, Esther, I can talk to you." Thus Mrs. Mortomley. But the soul of the girl had in that sentence gone out, and was knit unto that of Mrs. Mortomley as the soul of Jonathan to that of David.