“Yes, I am able. I shall walk,” said Lady Montressor, so calmly and resolutely, that her maid dared not pursue the argument; but looking at her mistress through eyes obscured with tears, she said— “Dear, dear lady, you keep on saying ‘I,’ and ‘I,’ ‘I can leave,’ and ‘I shall walk,’ as if—as if—as if—oh!——” cried Susan, suddenly breaking down and sobbing aloud. Her mistress gazed upon her in calm surprise, while she sobbed and caught her breath, and sobbed again, struggling through the fit into composure. Then when the girl, with a few ebbing, little sobs, wiped her eyes, Lady Montressor said— “Now then, Susan, why do you grieve?” The question nearly set Susan off again, but she valiantly slaughtered a sob with a hiccough, and answered, rather accusatively, by saying— “You keep on repeating ‘I’ and ‘I’ as if—as if—you were going to leave me behind.” “What! do you wish to go with me, Susan?” “Oh! my lady.” “But I am about to leave England—to leave all my past, easy and pleasant life behind, and to go into retirement in some foreign country.” “Well, my lady! what have I done to deserve to be cast off and left behind?” “Nothing ill, have you done, my dear girl! but do you really wish to leave your native country, your home and friends, and attach yourself to the doubtful fortunes of a hapless fugitive like your mistress?” “Dear lady, I have neither father nor mother—nor any one to love and serve but _you_——” “I will leave a letter with you for Mr. Oldfield, who will procure you a better home than I could ever give you.” “It isn’t _that_,” said Susan, with a certain quiet self-respect. “I would get homes enough, dear lady; but——” “But what?” “I wish to go with _you_. I love you, my lady. I would follow you to the world’s end!” “If you follow me, it may even be to that extent, dear girl!” said Lady Montressor, extending her hand to Susan, who caught and covered it with kisses. “I may go, your ladyship?” “It is only for your own sake I hesitate, to say—yes, Susan.” The girl chose to hear only the two last words of Lady Montressor’s reply, and arose with alacrity to wait her next orders. “You may put up a change of clothing in a small packet—that will be sufficient for me. The trunks must be left here for the present—to take them with us would be to blazon our journey. By the way, how came they all open, and in the middle of the floor?” said Lady Montressor, noticing for the first time the confusion of the room. “Pardon, my lady. But when we were leaving the court-room, his lordship—Lord Montressor I mean, said to me—‘Susan, my good child, hasten home and pack your lady’s trunks before she shall have time to get there, so that she shall not be incommoded and fatigued by the confusion.’ And I was doing it, your ladyship, not expecting you in so soon.”