“Heaven and earth, my lady! what is it? What new misfortune? What can I do for you? Sit down, dear Madam—here!” she exclaimed, recovering her presence of mind sufficiently to enable her to draw forward an easy chair and place her mistress in it. Lady Montressor sank down into the seat and dropped her face upon her open hands, while her vail of long, black ringlets fell forward concealing them. “Lady—dear lady! What is the matter? What can I do for you?” pleaded Susan, kneeling by her mistress’s side and looking up imploringly to her hidden face—“dear, dear lady, what can I do for you?—what is it?” “Oh! nothing, nothing, Susan!” “Forgive me, dear Madam, but you always say that! And this is not just _nothing_!” “Susan——?” “My dearest mistress!” “I think you _love_ me?” “Do you think the sun _warms_ you, dear lady?” “And I know you are _faithful_ to me.” “If I were half as faithful to the Lord, I should be sure of Heaven, my lady.” “Hush! speak lower. Go and see if the passage is clear, and then lock the door.” Susan obeyed, and then returned and kneeled down by her mistress’s side. Lady Montressor dropped her hands from her agonized face, and looked down deeply into the honest, affectionate eyes that were lifted so imploringly to hers. “Susan, I _know_ you will be worthy of the great trust I am about to repose in you.” “Try me, Madam! try me! if it is a secret, they might put me on an old-time rack and wrench and screw my limbs until their own limbs ached with the labor, and they’d never screw any thing out of my lips that was put into my heart by your ladyship!” “I do believe you speak sincerely; but your fidelity will not be put to so severe a test, Susan,” said Lady Montressor. Then, after a thoughtful pause, during which she sat with her head resting wearily on her hand, and her eyes fixed upon the floor, she suddenly looked up and said— “Susan, I must go to London to-night.” “Madam! My lady!” exclaimed the girl in consternation. “I must depart in secret, and alone,” continued Lady Montressor, while Susan gazed with no abatement of surprise and anxiety. “_You_ will, therefore, have to make all necessary arrangements for me.” “But, Madam—but, my dearest mistress——” “Be silent, dear girl, or rather listen to me, and answer my questions. When does the Bristol train go?” “At twelve to-night, and at six in the morning, Madam.” “I must go by the night train. How far is the depot from this house, Susan?” “At least a mile, my lady.” “What o’clock is it now?” “It has just struck eight, Madam.” “No later? good! We can complete all necessary arrangements in three hours, and I can leave here by eleven and reach the depot in time. Go now, dear girl, and engage a hackney-coach to be in readiness.—No! that would never do—that would betray me. I must walk the distance.” “Dear, dear lady, you could never walk it—never!”