The rough on hearing this stared at the girl, and thinking that she was someone belonging to the house who had slipped out for the police unobserved by him, considered it prudent, after an oath and a growl or two, to shuffle off slouchingly but not slowly. The cabman too drove off with alacrity, not being anxious to enter into explanations with his natural enemy, the man in the blue coat. "Why, child!" exclaimed Catherine King in amazement, for she was the tall pale woman, and had just returned from her expedition to the North in search of a pupil. "Why, child!" "Well, ma'am, I saw what was up and I knew that tale would move the fellows." "A sharp girl!" scrutinising her closely, "a clever girl! and you can lie very fairly." Sister Catherine said this in an appreciative way, as if allotting discriminate praise for some creditable accomplishment. "It is a good thing to know how to lie now and then," remarked Mary with a hard laugh. "It is," replied the other woman thoughtfully. It did not take long for an idea to possess Catherine King. Now, this young girl's face had impressed her. "What, have I undertaken this long journey for nothing?" she thought. "Have I travelled about in a vain search for a pupil of the aim, only on my return to find the very prize I am seeking, on my own door-step? It may be so by some wonderful chance. I have a sort of inspiration that it is so." And this impulsive half-mad woman was just thinking how best to open the question to Mary, when the latter cleared the way by saying: "Can you direct me, please ma'am, to this address?" and she handed to Mrs. King the paper that had been given her at the servant's registry office. "It is close here," Catherine replied: then noticing at the head of the paper the lithographed words, _Mrs. Anderson's registry for servants_, she went on: "You are not looking out for a place are you?" She asked this doubtfully after glancing at Mary; for the girl, though plainly dressed, had anything but the appearance of a domestic servant. "Yes, ma'am, I am." On hearing this the enthusiastic woman felt a joy as if her wildest ambition had been realised. She certainly could read character well, and she distinguished the power that lay in Mary Grimm. She felt almost certain that she had found her pupil at last. Providence had sent her--but I forget, Catherine King did not recognize a Providence, though she, like many wiser sceptics, entertained a sort of sneaking half-belief in its workings at times. "As it happens, I want a servant; will you come in, and then we can see if we shall do for each other?" Mary followed her into the house, wondering what this new adventure would lead to. "I live here by myself," said Catherine, when they were in the little parlour I have before described, "with one servant who has been with me for years. I am in want of another--a younger one to help her. Now tell me all about yourself--your name, age, character, and so forth."