"Jealous of that black creature!" cried Millicent. "Why, he could not hold a tallow candle to Robin!" "I dare say he won't try," replied Mrs Jane, with a little amusement in her voice. Mrs Lane, who had left the room, returned looking somewhat discomfited. "No, I cannot win your brother to see it," she said, in rather a vexed tone. "He thinks so much, as you do, of the commendation my Lord Wilmot gave the young man. He saith he is sure he is not a Roundhead (I marvel how he knows); and as for his inaptitude, he said the man hath not been before in service, and hath all to learn. If that be so, it cannot be helped, and you will have to be patient with him, Jane." "I will be as patient as I can, madam," said Mrs Jane gravely. "Oh, my dear Mrs Jane! Oh, Madam! how you _can_!" exclaimed Millicent. "We shall all be murdered by morning, I feel certain of it! Oh, dear, dear!" "Then you'd better make your will this evening," coolly observed Mrs Jane. "Look here, Millicent, should you like these cherry ribbons? They would not go ill with your grey gown." Millicent passed in a moment from the depths of despair to the heights of ecstasy. "Oh, how good of you, Mrs Jane! They are perfectly charming! I shall take the guarding off my grey gown to-morrow, and put them on." "If you survive," said Mrs Jane solemnly. Millicent looked slightly disconcerted. "Well, Mrs Jane, I was going to tell you--but after what Madam said--if the young man be respectable--I don't know, really--this morning, as he was coming into the hall, I thought--I really thought he was going to offer to take me by the hand. It gave me such a turn!" "I don't see why, if he had washed his hands," said Mrs Jane. "Oh, Mrs Jane! what things you do say!" Millicent had some excuse for her horror, since at that time shaking hands was a form of greeting only used between relatives or the most intimate friends. To give the hand to an inferior was the greatest possible favour. "Well," said Mrs Jane, locking the second trunk, "I expect Will Jackson is a decent fellow, and will attend me very well. At any rate, I mean to try him." "Well, Mrs Jane, I have warned you!" "You have so, Millicent. And if Jackson murders me before I come home, I promise to agree with you. But I don't believe he will." "Well!" repeated Millicent, "one thing is certain; the creature has surely never been in a _gentleman's_ service before. I expect he has followed the plough all his life. But I do hope, Mrs Jane, you may come back safe." "Thank you, Millicent; so do I," answered Mrs Jane.