“My lady, I haven’t seen such joy among the married as ever to envy them, the dear knows! and, besides, I have always heard it said that a woman’s life is in her affections, and I believe it. Now your poor Susan’s affections centre upon you. It would break her heart to leave you. In a word, dear lady, if you were to order her to depart, she would for the first time in her life, disobey you, and follow you until you gave her house-room or—in charge of the police!” said Susan, falling into that lurking humor, that under happier circumstances would have developed into wit. “Marry-come-up! I mean Miserabili! Am I not a sort of protege of your ladyship? Didn’t you take me, a poor little bare-footed girl, out of a hillside hovel, and didn’t you dress me neatly and put me into your own Park school? and didn’t you encourage me week by week, and month by month, and year by year, to learn? And didn’t you take me thence into your own service, and still stimulate me to improve my mind, and didn’t you lend me books, and even direct my reading? And didn’t you month by month, and year by year, absorb more and more of my life into your own, until now I have no life without you? And do you now talk of casting me off?——Forgive me, dear lady, I have spoken freely, I fear, also impertinently, but I have spoken _truly_. I cannot leave you.” Lady Montressor turned away her head to conceal the emotion that disturbed her countenance, and after a little while she said— “Well! well! we will talk of this another time, Susan! Meanwhile, hurry down to the Ocean House, and bring that young woman to me; the facts that you have imparted make it necessary to be expeditious.” With a deep sigh Susan arose, put on her straw bonnet with the thick green vail, drew a black silk scarf closely around her sloping shoulders, and went quietly out upon her errand. In two hours she returned, accompanied by Barbara Brande, young Willful, and a lawyer, with the deed of lease. Lady Montressor sat in her closely curtained parlor, near a corner table, with her elbow on its top, and her head averted from what little light there was, and resting upon her hand, her long black ringlets falling around, and throwing into deeper shadow the features of her beautiful face. And so she received the party. Barbara Brande first approached, and saluting her respectfully, said that she had brought the lawyer with the lease and her elder brother as a witness. Lady Montressor slightly lifted her eyelids, acknowledged the presence of these others with a bow, and addressing Barbara, said— “Let your attorney read the documents, Miss Brande—he need not come nearer, I can hear his voice from where he stands. Susan, place a chair for the gentleman—Miss Brande, sit near him, if you please.” Barbara retreated, and instructed the lawyer to begin. The documents were read and approved. Then Barbara brought the articles and laid them upon the table before the lady for her signature.