“Well, naturally mistresses are particular concerning who comes about their houses,” Lucy answered staunchly. “Your mistress said she had no fault to find with you. She told me you had dismissed yourself. Have you known the young man long?” “More than a year, ma’am. He’s a carpenter working in Messrs. Muggeridge’s shop”—she named a large place of business about midway between her former situation and Mrs. Challoner’s house. “Well, Jane, I decide to engage you, and after a week or two, if all goes rightly, he may come to see you once a week. Carpenters get away from their work rather early, so all that I shall ask is that he never stays later than nine o’clock, when you bring up my supper tray. And I am sure you will take care I shall never regret giving you this permission.” “Thank you, ma’am,” said Jane. “Please, ma’am, you never shall.” She seemed to take her new form of bliss very sedately. Then a sudden thought struck Lucy. She remembered the speed of Pollie’s wooing. “You are not thinking of getting married very soon, I suppose?” “Oh, dear, no, ma’am,” answered Jane. “His wage will have to rise a bit. He’s got to do something for his mother.” “You can understand that I shouldn’t like you to come into my service merely to go out of it again,” observed Lucy. But her silent reflection was that household regulations which prevent a comfortable courtship must surely do much to promote regardless, rash, improvident marriage. “No, ma’am, I’ve no such thought,” said Jane soberly. “Then can you enter on your duties to-morrow?” asked Mrs. Challoner rather anxiously, for to-morrow was the last day of the old year, and New Year’s Day falling on Sunday, St. George’s Institute would open on Monday, though duties there might not be very stringent for a day or two later. “Oh, yes, ma’am,” answered Jane, with more vivacity than she had shown over her love affairs. “For my time is up to-morrow morning, and it costs a girl a good deal if she has to pay for board and lodging between her places.” So Jane Smith in a cab, with a big brown box, duly arrived on Friday about noon. She was soon installed in her duties, and when Mrs. Brand arrived to pay her sister a call on the last day of the year, Jane “opened the door” with the dull propriety of one who has done it for months. Mrs. Brand was startled. “What! Is the prodigy gone?” she exclaimed as Jane showed her into the parlour, “or have you hired a girl to help her? Lucy, that would be a brilliant idea, for the poor old thing is too old for running about, and yet I suppose she is a good figure-head for you to leave at home, when you are to be so much away. I always said you ought to have two. You’ve done too much servant’s work.” Lucy drew her sister within the parlour. “I have not two, certainly not,” she answered patiently, “but I had a terrible disappointment with Mrs. Morison, and she had to go. She drank.” Lucy spoke in the low impressive voice which marked her horror of the discovery.