A sharp pull at the bell brought a servant to the hall-door, a woman-servant, for the men were all up-stairs, dressed like ministers, and with white gloves on their hands. “Why, Ellen Burns! is it you?” “Hush.” The servant lifted up both hands with something like terror, when she uttered this word, and looked over her shoulder to make certain that no one was listening. “Come in,” she said, in a whisper; “but not one word about the hospital; I should lose my place if it were known that I had ever been a nurse there.” “Is the lady as particular as that?” answered Jane, sinking her voice and slipping inside the door. “Well, well, never fear, I know how to keep a close mouth, you know that of old.” “Yes, yes, I know,—step in here,—you have come at a fortunate time; two of the girls are up-stairs, and the men are all so busy that we can have the parlor here almost to ourselves.” Jane slipped through the door opened for her, and found herself in a room that struck her as sumptuous. “Won’t the lady come down and catch us in her parlor?” she asked a little anxiously. Ellen laughed, and throwing herself on a sofa, made room for Jane by her side. “She come here! Why, this is the servants’ parlor, Jane Kelly; we have nice times here, I tell you, especially when she is away at the watering-places;—not that we stay here much, why should we when the drawing-room is more convenient,—such balls and parties as we have! such wine! to say nothing of——, well, no matter. Tell me what brought you here, of all places in the world?” “No, tell me more about your way of living. It must be sumptuous; I should like it.” “Like it! of course you would; double the wages you get, and half the work.” “No vacancy? One would not get in with the help of a friend like you, Ellen. I should like it, you know.” “Impossible,” said Ellen, firmly. “I thought so. Well, never mind. You were speaking about parties and wine—champagne, perhaps?” “Plenty of it—like water, in fact—that is, when she’s away.” “But how do you get it?” “She takes the keys of the wine-cellar, of course, but careful as a woman can be, such things will sometimes be mislaid or lost. Hers got lost one day. She had to get a locksmith and have another made. Singular, wasn’t it? but weeks after I found that very key in my pocket.” “Very singular,” said Jane demurely. “Isn’t it, now? but our little parties have gone off splendidly ever since.” “I should think so,” said Jane; “I only wonder you never thought to invite me.” “Couldn’t,” answered Ellen, shaking her head. “The aristocracy would have turned up its nose clear through the basement. Nothing but first-class ladies and gentlemen get into these little swarrys,—ladies’ maids, footmen, and so on,—awfully _rechercher_, I can tell you. Why, some of us wear real diamonds; I don’t, for my duties are down-stairs, but you may bet on it the girls that take care of their mistress’s things shine now and then.”