“There were her credentials from Edinburgh,” explained Lucy; and then she told Miss Latimer all about the lawyer’s letter and the minister’s testimonial. Miss Latimer sat and pondered. “I may be wrong,” she said, “I may be carrying my suspicions too far. We are all apt to do that when all firm ground of confidence is taken from our feet. But, my dear Lucy, you should have never taken her in on the strength of written characters of however fair seeming.” “But how unjust that would be!” pleaded Lucy. “It would mean that if a woman left the neighbourhood where she had worked, or if employers themselves left it, then she would not be able to get another place.” “No, no, Lucy,” explained the old lady, “there is a difference. A personal interview between past and future employers is always best, because, apart from the easiness with which questions are asked and answered, it has an environment which tells a tale of itself. But it is quite true that this cannot always be. Then the new mistress should always address herself directly to the people willing to give ‘the character.’ Even that leaves some opening for chicanery; but it is small indeed compared with that which attends ready-made certificates. You yourself should have written to the doctor and the lawyer.” “I did not like the idea of the written character,” said Lucy, in self-excuse. “I think I might have hesitated to take it from a supposed former mistress. But these were professional men; they might not have cared to be troubled with letters of inquiry in such matters; and then, too, when she left Scotland, she had not thought of going at once in quest of a situation. I assure you those letters seemed to be the productions of educated men, and the paper they were on was stamped with the lawyer’s address and with the name of the minister’s manse.” “As I tell you, my dear, I may be going too far,” said Miss Latimer; “but I assure you my experience in other cases justifies it. Do you remember the addresses given?” “No, I do not,” answered poor Lucy, who began to feel that she had been woefully unwary. “And oh, if you had only seen how nice this Mrs. Morison looked among all those other women, I’m sure you too would have felt ready to trust her! How can one understand such people, who know so well what ought to be, and who have it in them to simulate it so perfectly when it suits them for a time, but who keep their other nature all the same, always ready to spring to the front? How are we to realise which is really they? Is it possible that they themselves are not quite sure? Why, I really thought that the only fault to be detected in Mrs. Morison was just a touch of self-satisfaction, a little turning of the Pharisee’s nose returning thanks for superiority over others.” Miss Latimer shook her head.