The poor thing was really hysterical, so I got her to bed and sent her some lavender and sal volatile by Mary Lee. She was well enough next day, and I fear her penitence had vanished with her fears. However, she was henceforth kind and respectful to me, and did a good deal to make my life more endurable, by checking the insolence of her fellow servants. Lady Leighton's guests arrived in a day or two, and I recognized among them several persons whom I had seen in Mrs. Thorpe's shop. Lord Bulmer did not present himself, but I heard from Mrs. Wilson, who told me more news than I cared to hear, that he was expected— "And worse luck, I say!" added Wilson. "I wish he was a thousand miles away! Miss Corbet—" she added, whispering in my ear, "do you tell Miss Leighton to beware of him, and keep out of his way yourself. He is a bad wicked man. He has my poor lady under his thumb, and will make her see sorrow—" "Hush!" said I, interrupting her. "You must not betray your lady's secrets." The woman stared at me half amazed. "I thought you would like to know!" said she. "I thought my lady was your enemy." "She is not my friend, I fear!" I answered. "Nevertheless, I must do by her as I would be done by. We have no right to return evil for evil, even to our enemies, you know. If you knew any secrets of mine, supposing I ever had any, I should not like to have you tell them to my lady." "I believe you really are good!" said Wilson. "My lady says you are a canting Methodist. Are you? Did you learn that among the Methodists?" "I learned it from the word of God!" said I. "Where you may learn many things that will do you good, in this world and the next. As to being a Methodist, I do not know what that means. There, I think your distilling is going on all right now,—" for I had been helping her in the still-room, where she got into unheard of difficulties, and had nearly blown herself up two or three times. "Do not let your still get too hot, and you will do very well." "I am sure you are very kind to take so much pains for me!" said Mrs. Wilson. "But Miss Corbet, it is on my conscience to tell you one thing which I know, for certain—no matter how," she added, putting her face close to mine. "Lord Bulmer is determined to marry Miss Leighton, and he will make my lady give her to him. As to Sir Julius, he is just a mould of weak calves-foot jelly, he will keep any shape you put him into, so long as he is in it and no longer!"