“She is not ill, mother; she is angry,” he said, sharply. “Angry?” “Yes. I have been telling her that Phebe must go, and she objects.” “Objects, Cecil?” loftily. “Surely she would not wish to retain a servant who had been rude to _me_?” “She is my only friend,” Molly muttered, in a despairing tone, and the mother-in-law rejoined, testily: “I might say that you do not deserve any friends, if I chose to speak plainly, but I do not wish to wound you. You can not expect me to retain that woman at The Acacias. I have secured another maid for you--a splendid woman with a good recommendation--and she will take Phebe’s place tomorrow.” From the pale lips of the despised young wife came a moan of remonstrance; but no one heeded it, for Cecil had gone abruptly out of the room, and Mrs. Laurens, after her final sentence, sat down coolly to her book. Phebe had been on the alert and knew that Cecil had taken his hat and left the house. She peered into the morning-room and saw her young mistress in tears and her mother-in-law absorbed in her novel. Stalking boldly across the room, she said: “You are tired out with coming down to breakfast, Mrs. Laurens. Hadn’t you better come back to your room and rest?” Molly put her hand on the strong arm and went away sobbing unheeded by the reader, who did not turn her head to notice the departure. “Now then, who has hurt you, my pet?” Phebe demanded when she had laid Molly down on her soft sofa, and with bitter sobs the whole story was blurted out, for Molly’s heart was too full to hold it. “Phebe, if they send you away I shall go with you. I will not be parted from the only friend that is left to me,” she exclaimed. Phebe stroked the pretty, dark head in silence some minutes before she replied, gravely: “No, my dear young mistress, you must not defy your husband like that or you will never win him back. You must give me up as he wishes you to do, and perhaps when he sees how you obey his wishes even against your own desire he will send for me to come back to you soon, for I don’t think his anger can hold out long, seeing how sweet and humble and good you are.” After a few moments she continued, sadly: “I have known this for some time, Mrs. Laurens, but I would not distress you with it. But now I will give you one warning. Mrs. Laurens has hired a maid for you who was selected and recommended by Miss Louise Barry. Hush, my dear! Do not say you will not have her, for that would anger your husband. Let her come, but be wary and watchful. She may be a tool in Miss Barry’s hands and may mean to do you harm at her instigation.” CHAPTER XXXVI. The new maid arrived the next morning and Phebe, who had duly received her discharge from Cecil, came in to bid her mistress good-bye. She was calm and quiet, resolutely keeping back her tears for fear that she might make the parting too painful. “You’ll keep my secret, Phebe? You will not tell any one?” Molly implored, clinging to her in pathetic despair.