She was in the bay-window, and after standing there a few minutes, her face changed; the troubled look passed away as a steady, regular step was heard on the gravel path beyond the hedge. There was the faint creaking noise, too, at every step of the hard tight boots, and as their wearer passed, Millicent looked up and returned the salute: for a glossy hat was raised, and he who bowed passed on, leaving her with her colour slightly heightened and an eager look in her eyes. "Any answer, miss?" Millicent turned quickly, to see that Thisbe had returned. "Answer?" "Yes, miss. The note." "Is Mr Bayle waiting?" "No, miss; but I thought you might want to send him one, and I'm going out and could leave it on the way." "No, Thisbe, there is no answer." "Are you sure, miss?" "Sure, Thisbe? Of course." Thisbe stood pulling the hem of her apron and making it snap. "Oh! I would send him a line, miss. I like Mr Bayle. For such a young man, the way he can preach is wonderful. But, Miss Milly," she cried with a sudden, passionate outburst, "please, don't--don't do that!" "What do you mean, Thisbe?" "I can't abear it, miss. It frightens and worries me." "Thisbe!" "I can't help it, miss. I'm a woman too, and seven years older than you are. Don't, please don't, take any notice of me. There, don't look cross at me, miss. I must speak when I see things going wrong." "What do you mean?" cried Millicent, crimsoning. "I mean I used to lead you about when you was a little thing and keep you out o' the puddles when the road was clatty, and though you never take hold o' my hand now, I must speak when you're going wrong." "Thisbe, this is a liberty!" "I can't help it, Miss Milly; I see him coming by in his creaking boots, and taking off his hat, and walking by here, when he has no business, and people talking about it all over the town." "And in this house. Thisbe, you are forgetting your place." "Oh, no, I'm not, miss. I'm thinking about you and Mr Hallam, miss. I know." "Thisbe, mamma and I have treated you more as a friend than a servant; but--" "That's it, miss; and I shouldn't be a friend if I was to stand by and see you walk raight into trouble without a word." "Thisbe!" "I don't care, Miss Milly, I will speak. Don't have nowt to do wi' him; he's too handsome; never you have nowt to do wi' a handsome man." Millicent's ordinarily placid face assumed a look foreign to it--a look of anger and firmness combined; but she compressed her lips, as if to keep back words she would rather not utter, and then smiled once more. "Ah, you may laugh, Miss Milly; but it's nothing to laugh at. And there's Mr Bayle, too. You're having letters from he." Millicent's face changed again; but she mastered her annoyance, and, laying her hand upon Thisbe's shoulder, said with a smile: "I don't want to be angry with you, Thisbe, but you have grown into a terribly prejudiced woman." "Enough to make me, seeing what I do, Miss Milly."