'Lift me up-raise my head. Where's the note? Oh, here.

shall I do what shall I do?"

Where's Philip?

What on earth

"Hereabouts the unfortunate lady relapsed into a state of insensibility, and the note which she had previously clenched in her hand, and about which she evinced such earnest solicitude, fell from her grasp.

"Susan,' said Mary, as it tumbled on the

floor.

"Mary,' said Susan, nodding her head. "Susan,' said Jenny- I say-

66

Whereupon they began signalling to each other, to take advantage of their mistress's 'absence' to inform themselves of the contents of the billet. The sympathies of mischief and curiosity combined were at work, and, without the waste of another word, the domestic Graces of the unconscious Venus were busily occupied: one in greedily swallowing with her eyes the intelligence so anxiously coveted, and the other two grouped so as to prevent Miss Pennefather

seeing what was going on if she should happen suddenly to open her swain-killing eyes.

"Susan took upon herself the active and responsible part of the performance, and picking up the note, which they knew to be of Miss Maloney's writing, read, sotto voce, what follows:

"MY DEAREst Friend,

"Your constant and long-continued kindness to me makes it doubly painful to me to take the decided step which, nevertheless, I have resolved upon. I would not for the world oppose your wishes or incur your displeasure; but the crisis is at hand, and therefore I am forced to act promptly. My heart is so devotedly attached and so immutably engaged to another, that it would be worse than hypocrisy even to permit your nephew to be introduced to me in the character of an avowed lover. In cases such as these, discussions only excite and promote angry feelings. I have made my own decision, and will abide by it, let what may be the conse

quences. Before this reaches you I shall have placed my fate beyond the chance of alteration -two days hence you shall have further particulars. In the meantime assure yourself that I am safe and happy, and always affectionately yours,

"MILLICENT MALONEY.'

"That's it, is it?" said Mary, rubbing her mistress's temples with Eau de Cologne.

"That's it,' rejoined Jenny, as she chafed her mistress's hands; and a pretty it, it is, too.'

"Can you guess who?' whispered Susan.

“‹ Hush ! Hem !—do you feel yourself a little better, Ma'am?' said Jenny, finding Miss Pennefather' coming to,' as she called it.

"Jane,' said Miss Pennefather, gasping for breath; I never can be better. Tell me,

where's the note?'

"Where's the note, Susan?" said Jane.

"What note?' said Susan.

"Do you mean that bit of

up, down there?' said Mary.

paper doubled

"Yes, child, yes!' said Miss Pennefather; that's it; give it me. Do you know anything at all about it?'

"It, Ma'am !' said Mary.

"What, Ma'am?' said Susan.

"What do you mean, Ma'am?" said Jenny.

"Why, about Miss Millicent's going off,' said Miss Pennefather.

"Off!' exclaimed Susan.

"Going!' cried Mary.

"Going off!' screamed Jenny.

"Off!' repeated the lady.

This note tells

me that she has left me-fled-run away, in short. But can nobody guess who the man is?" "Man!' exclaimed the three maids at once. "Yes-man!' said Miss Pennefather emphatically. She is gone away with a man.' "Dear me !' said Susan.

"Oh dear!' cried Jane.

"Oh, bless me !' said Mary.

"Have you seen nobody about the house lately?' said Miss Pennefather.

"No,' was the general reply, with an exception made by Susan, of John Bartram, the old man known as the 'helper,' and who did all the work of all the regular servants.

"Nonsense,' said the lady. Oh, no, no; there is some fly-away Irishman in the case, I have no doubt. Just like her mother-no care -no thought. What am I to do with my poor nephew? What am I to say? How am I to excuse myself? I can't dine-I can't sit up. Susan, go and tell Simmons to give my love to Mr. Philip, and say I am too unwell to go down to dinner; beg him to dine, and—but then what will he think? You had better let Simmons tell him—no, go yourself—go yourself, and explain why I cannot dine with him. Say I shall, I hope, be better in the evening, and will talk over matters with him, and-if he should ask about Millicent, why-you know what I have told you, and so-make him understand—break it to him—it is better than trusting