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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f57f44 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text +*.htm text +*.html text +*.png binary +*.jpg binary +*.svg text +*.pdf binary +*.bmp binary +*.zip binary +*.midi binary +*.mp3 binary diff --git a/78930-0.txt b/78930-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..baff1a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2080 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78930 *** +Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. + + + +[Illustration: "You have had a good home and a kind mistress."] + + + + [Illustration] + + TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCE + + + BY + + RUTH LAMB + + AUTHOR OF + + "The Luckiest Lad in Libberton," "Old Cantanker," etc. + + + + THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY + + 56, PATERNOSTER ROW; 65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD + AND 164, PICCADILLY. + + + + [Illustration] + + + + [Illustration] + + CONTENTS. + + [Illustration] + +CHAP. + + I. LEADING-STRINGS + + II. EVIL COMMUNICATIONS + + III. MISUNDERSTANDINGS + + IV. A RIFT IN THE CLOUD + + V. THE FIRST NIGHT IN A NEW HOME + + VI. KATE'S SUNDAY OUT + + VII. A MISTAKE CONFESSED + +VIII. HOPE DEFERRED—FAITH JUSTIFIED + + + + [Illustration] + + + + [Illustration] + + TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCE. + + [Illustration] + +CHAPTER I. + +LEADING-STRINGS. + +"IF we are servants, we are not slaves that I know of. I would not stay +in the best place under the sun if I must be kept in leading-strings +like a baby, and never be allowed out of the mistress's sight. Come +along with me, Kate. I am going to leave, so I have no call to care +what she says." + +"But I am not, and I don't think I want to leave. Mrs. Bateson is very +particular, but she means it for our good. It is not every mistress +that would take the trouble she does, and it is no benefit to her." + +"Isn't it? You may think so; but it is because you know no better, you +little simpleton. Isn't it to the mistress's benefit to have us always +within call? She gets more work out of us than the wages are worth. I +shall be glad to turn my back on this place when Wednesday comes." + +The speakers were the upper and under housemaids in a large country +house. The elder of the two, who held the higher post, was a clever, +capable young woman, but with a strong will, quick temper, and very +decided views about her "rights" and the work belonging to her place. +She had only been three months in it, and had given notice to leave, +because she found the rules of the house too strict to suit her taste, +especially as regarded the keeping of the Sabbath. + +Mrs. Bateson was very particular in this respect. But if Fanny Ellis +had only given the matter reasonable thought, she would have owned that +the children of the household and the servants were bound by the same +rules. Every member of the family who was in health, and not compelled +to remain at home for the performance of domestic duties, was expected +to occupy her seat in the house of God at least once on Sunday. There +was but a single place of worship within walking distance, so that +masters and servants met together under the same roof, and were near +each other. + +Fanny Ellis was one of the first to rebel against this rule, though she +had agreed to it when she took the place of upper housemaid. + +More than once her seat at church had been empty, and she had made +various excuses for her absence. Next, she boldly declared that +servants had little enough time for rest, or a walk in the fresh air, +and that so long as her work was well done and up to hours, she meant +to call her Sundays her own, and spend her "turn out" as she pleased. + +Mrs. Bateson did not wish to part with the girl, but she could not +allow her authority to be set at nought. At first she spoke gently to +Fanny, reminded her that the Sabbath was God's day, but given for the +refreshment of the soul as well as for the rest of the body, and that +we should value the opportunity of going to His house as a blessed +privilege, not an irksome task to be forced upon us by some one else. + +"I give you the same opportunity as my own children have," she added. +"You may be sure I wish to do well for them, and the fact that I am +particular for you also should show that I wish you to do what is for +your own good, not for any benefit to myself." + +Fanny listened, but said nothing in reply, and soon after again broke +the rule. + +"If this should happen a third time, Fanny, I must give you notice to +leave. I cannot keep any servant who sets our rules at defiance." + +"I will give you a month's notice and save you the trouble," returned +the girl, pertly. "The rules don't suit me. They may do in an infant +school, but not for grown-up people in a free country. I'll do my work +well while I stay, and I hope you will give me a character for that. I +don't expect you will be asked to say how often I go to church." And +Fanny, with a toss of the head, and without waiting for an answer, +flounced out of her mistress's presence. + +"Poor girl!" said Mrs. Bateson to herself. "I wish I could make her +understand how truly I desire her good. I do hope she will be contented +with throwing up her own place, without unsettling the others, +especially Kate." + +This was exactly what Fanny would not do. She aired her views on the +subject of tyrannical mistresses and the slavery of service under such, +on every possible occasion. But most of her fellow-servants knew too +well the value of their places to be affected by what she said or to +agree with it. + +Kate Evans was younger, weaker and more easily led. Moreover, she was +a little bit giddy, had a pretty face, and liked to show it elsewhere +than in the servants' pew at church, "where," said Fanny, "if you look +up, the mistress's eye is down on you in a minute." + +Fanny was mistaken. Mrs. Bateson went to the house of God to worship, +not to watch other people. She knew, too, how likely it was that the +young would feel annoyed at the thought of her doing so, and she +carefully avoided it. + +After Fanny had given notice, she only went once to church. "I shall go +for a walk instead," she said. "I will do my work so as nobody can find +fault, but I have cut the leading-strings, and I will take care they +are not tied again." + +On the second Sunday, she urged Kate to accompany her. The weak girl +yielded to persuasion and ridicule combined, but she was not happy. She +dreaded the consequences of her disobedience, and was angry at herself +for having been laughed into doing what conscience told her was wrong. + +Kate could not forget that Mrs. Bateson had taken her from a poor home +and a widowed mother who know not how to get bread for a number of +younger children. She had been very ignorant when she came three years +ago, and her mistress had taught her all she knew, and had been very +patient with her carelessness, mistakes, and forgetfulness. She had +given her better wages than she deserved at first in order to relieve +the poor mother of all anxiety about her daughter's wardrobe. She had +shown her how to spend her money to the best advantage, and allowed her +maid to teach her how to cut out and make her clothes and economise the +materials. + +No one would have known the Kate Evans of to-day to be the same as +the slatternly, ignorant girl who came from a poor home three years +ago. She was worth her wages now, there was no doubt about it. But who +had made her so? To whom did she owe it that she was well up with her +duties, and that any mistress might be attracted by her smart, tidy +appearance, if she were in want of a place? + +Kate's conscience answered, "To Mrs. Bateson." + +She could not forget that this lady had been alike her friend and her +mistress, and that to treat her with disrespect and disobedience would +be the grossest ingratitude. Yet she allowed herself to be laughed and +taunted into both. + +The first time this occurred, Mrs. Bateson spoke to Kate with more of +sorrow than anger. She knew that the girl was young and weak, and would +be as easily led in the wrong direction as she had hitherto been in the +right. In Fanny's hands, she would be pliant as wax. + +So the lady spoke kindly, told Kate all that she felt about her +intercourse with the other servant, and advised her not to be induced +to do wrong by a companion who could not have the same interest in her +welfare as her own good mother had. + +"You know, Kate," she said, "how anxious your mother is that you should +be kept from wrong company, and that you should become a true child of +God. I have hoped much for you, and rejoiced in your improvement, and +I do not wish to be hard with you. I forgive this one act of direct +disobedience, because you have been misled. But, remember, I must not +allow you to repeat it without feeling the consequences, and if you +again break the rules of the household, I must give you notice to +leave." + +Kate cried, promised that she would not offend again, and felt all the +more determined to keep her word, because Mrs. Bateson had not reminded +her of benefits conferred in the past. It was all for her own sake, and +for her mother's, and Kate's conscience confirmed every word that her +mistress had said. + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER II. + +EVIL COMMUNICATIONS. + +KATE fully intended to keep her promise, and would have done so if +only Fanny had been out of the way. She really felt sorry that she had +grieved Mrs. Bateson, whose great kindness could not be put out of her +mind, and she tried, by extra diligence and attention to her duties, to +make what amends she could for her disrespect and disobedience. + +Mrs. Bateson did look specially for Kate in the servants' pew on the +next Sunday, and saw the girl in her place and seemingly joining with +heart and voice in worship. She was very glad of this. Though a lady +of high position and large means, she was a true mother. The thought +of the temptations that beset the young made her watch the daughters +of poorer mothers with genuine interest, and she rejoiced in their +well-doing as a parent and a Christian. + +Coming out of church, she gave Kate a pleasant smile and a word of +encouragement, which, for the moment, made the girl more sorry for her +past fault and still more anxious to make amends. But her battle was +not over nor her victory so easily won. + +All through the following week she had to bear many a jeer and taunt +from Fanny Ellis, who was determined, as she said within herself, to +"pay Mrs. Bateson out," by unsettling her younger housemaid. + +"Poor little girl! So you have eaten humble pie, and begged Missus's +pardon, and promised never to be naughty any more. You like to be in +leading-strings and to do just as you are bid, whether you are in the +house or out of it." + +"It wasn't right of me to go with you instead of to church," said Kate, +stoutly. "I don't see that there is any disgrace in owning one has done +wrong, if one's conscience tells that we have." + +"Oh dear no! But I suppose it is quite right of Mrs. Bateson to expect +that we, grown-up women, should be ordered about like little children. +I'm twenty-five." + +"I am not, though," replied Kate. + +"You are twenty and a grown-up woman, and you are worth three pounds a +year more wages than she gives you." + +"I don't know that. I never tried for another place, and I have no +desire to change. Mrs. Bateson has been very kind to me," replied Kate. + +"And to herself, too. She gets three-ha'p'orth of work for every penny +she pays you, I know." + +"No, indeed you are wrong. My wages may not be high, but Mrs. Bateson +gave me far more than I earned when I first came," said the girl, +earnestly. + +"Then you need thank her for nothing, since she is taking it back again +out of what you ought to have now," retorted Fanny. + +The girl was so ready with her answers, so quick-witted and bold in her +attacks, that she often silenced Kate's tongue, though she could not +convince her that what she said was right. Kate often heartily wished +herself out of Fanny's way, but that could not be, though she counted +the days that must pass before she would leave, and rejoiced that the +month was nearly at an end. + +Mrs. Bateson had no idea of what was going on. Fanny did her work +better than ever, with a double motive. She was determined her mistress +should have no excuse for complaint on that score, and that she should +give her a first-class character for efficiency—all that most inquirers +would care about. + +"And I mean to let her see that I am better worth keeping than some of +her demure sort, though I won't be driven to spend my Sundays as my +mistress chooses for the best place going." + +Kate could not and would not tell what she had to put up with, so as +the two were much thrown together during working hours, she had to +listen in spite of herself. + +By degrees Fanny's words made an impression. Kate insisted that, if you +undertook a place on certain conditions, these should be observed. + +"You knew the rules when you came, and ought to abide by them." + +"Well, I am going because they are too hard and strict for me. You will +say the same before long." + +Fanny was right. The month was not out, yet Kate had begun to think +that it was a shame to bind grown-up people by such rules, and in her +heart to rebel against them and to wish them changed. + +It was on the last Sunday, and Fanny was to leave on the following +Wednesday morning. She was in high spirits, having secured a promising +situation, and fully determined to show off her independence to the end. + +Some little thing had happened between Kate and the cook, an old and +valued servant, who had been a true friend to the young one. She +guessed that Fanny meant mischief, and warned the younger girl against +being carried away by bad advice. + +"You have had a good home and a kind mistress, don't throw them away, +Kate," she said. "Remember what you were when you came here first, +with hardly a shoe to your foot, or a gown to your back, and don't be +ungrateful." + +"I had good shoes and gowns too," retorted Kate, angrily. + +"Well, yes, you had, but the mistress bought for you every decent bit +of clothing you had, I know that," replied cook. + +"I paid her back, out of my wages, the money laid down to buy the +clothes with, so you need not fling that in my face," said Kate, +angrily. She did not like those old days to be talked about, now that +she was so much better off. + +Cook had tried to speak a word in season, and she was full of good +will for Kate. But, unfortunately, she said the wrong words, and did +harm where she meant to do good. She had not her mistress's wisdom or +forbearance in dealing with the young, and as Kate said, "She flung my +poverty in my face, and I didn't like it." + +"I should wonder if you did," replied Fanny; "if I were you, I would +not stop in a place where either mistress or servant could do it by me." + +Cook had roused Kate's temper instead of awakening afresh her gratitude +by reminding her of past favours. Fanny resolved that the fire thus +kindled should not go out for want of stirring, and said further +irritating things with such success that Kate went to bed that night in +a thoroughly rebellious and discontented spirit. + +She shed many a bitter tear at the thought of having been taunted with +being too poor to buy her own clothes when she came to the place, and +felt humiliated and disgraced. + +"I should like to get right away from them all, and I do not care about +staying in a place where I may be talked to again as cook spoke last +night," she said to herself. + +Morning—Fanny's last Sunday morning,—found her in no better spirit, and +she was more than ready to yield when tempted to disobey once again, +though she made a show of refusing at first, and said, "Mrs. Bateson is +particular, but it is for our good. It is no benefit to her." + +She ended by falling in with Fanny's proposal, and spent the Sunday +morning without going near church. + +Mrs. Bateson said nothing to the girl until Monday, but Kate saw a +sorrowful expression on her mistress's kind face which spoke to her +heart more loudly than words would have done. + +She had felt very defiant and independent when she came in from her +walk with Fanny, but as the quiet hours passed, she realised the +position in which she had placed herself. She would have a night to +sleep on it before anything could be said, but there was little rest +for Kate. She heard the clock strike hour after hour, as she lay awake +thinking of her mistress's kindness, of the home she had enjoyed, the +regular habits, the plentiful food, the quiet Sabbaths. + +She seemed compelled to think of them again and again, and she knew +that her present health and strength were largely owing to all these +advantages. + +She remembered too how, during a rather severe illness she had in her +second year of service, she had been nursed and cared for, attended +by the family doctor at her master's cost, and nourished with all the +little dainties that could tempt her appetite when she was able to take +food again. She knew that in most cases a servant who breaks down at +her post is sent away, perhaps to a poor home or lodgings, to recover +as best she may. + +Kate had cried out of vexation and wounded pride the night before. She +wept yet more bitterly at the thought of her own ingratitude, and of +the pain which the knowledge of it would cause her mother. + +"What a poor-spirited thing you are!" said Fanny, as she saw Kate's red +eyelids and pale face. "You have been fretting half the night, and what +for?" + +"I shall lose my place, and I know I deserve to be sent away. I +promised, and I have broken my word. It is not pleasant to think of +that, to say nothing of my mistress. She has been good to me and my +mother." + +"Well, you are a goose!" replied Fanny, contemptuously. "And you are +like a weathercock, going round from one side to the other. I never +know where to have you. If you do lose your place, there are plenty of +better ones to be had for looking after, and to have stayed here three +years is character enough for anybody. Give notice yourself as I did, +and then Mrs. Bateson will see how much you care for her place. You +need not tell your mother directly. Let her know when you have another +situation to go to." + +But Kate felt that she had already followed Fanny's advice once too +often. No fear of her going the length proposed. She was not kept +long in suspense; directly after breakfast she was summoned to her +mistress's room. + +"You will know why I have sent for you, Kate. I have never broken my +word when I have promised you anything, and I cannot break it now. I +have no need to explain why I am parting with you. You know, without +any word from me, that you will have to leave on this day month. +And you must feel that no mistress could possibly keep a girl who +repeatedly set her orders at defiance, and broke the rules of the +household," said Mrs. Bateson. + +Kate had indeed known what was coming, and she bitterly regretted the +conduct which had brought it upon her. She dared not lift an appealing +look to the face of her kind mistress, and felt unable to utter a word +in her defence, so stood there with downcast eyes, in which tears were +already rising. + +What could she say? Only confess her ingratitude and folly, and plead +that she had listened to evil counsel, and acted contrary to her better +judgment. + +She would gladly have said this if she had felt the least hope that she +would be forgiven. But she did not. + +And, after waiting for a few moments in silence, Mrs. Bateson said, +"You can leave the room, Kate; I have nothing further to say to you at +present." + +The girl turned away to hide the tears which were now streaming down +her cheeks, and left her mistress's presence without a word. If she +had but looked up, and noted the expression of pity and sorrow in Mrs. +Bateson's kind face, she would surely have tried to tell what was in +her heart. But she did not; and as she walked slowly away, she left the +lady with the impression that the girl, for whom she had done so much, +was ungrateful as well as wilfully disobedient. + +Fanny was not far off. Through that day and the next she strove, after +her fashion, to cheer Kate, by repeating all her old arguments against +being kept in leading-strings and treated like babies. But her words +produced no sense of comfort, for whilst she could not help hearing +them, Kate was looking back on the past three years of comfort, plenty, +and peace in that fair home, and of the kindness shown her under its +roof, and saying to herself, "But for listening to you, I might be +looking forward to more such happy years. As it is, I must soon turn my +back on all here, and they will feel that I have behaved so badly." + +Fanny departed in high spirits on the Wednesday morning, and despite +the evil effects of her companionship, Kate felt more unhappy still +when she was gone. She had offended her old friend the cook, by +resenting her well-meant advice, so very few words now passed between +them. + +"Kate may take her own way for me," said cook. "She's only a bit of +a girl of twenty, and I am twice her age, and might be her mother. +And I've tried to act like one to her, and helped her in many a way, +because I thought she was willing to be taught and wanted to do right. +But now she has set herself up to go straight against the mistress's +orders and rules, and turned huffy with me, because I just put her in +mind what had been done for her and advised her for her good; she may +take her own way for me. I shall not interfere again, come what may. +I'll be civil, and speak when I have house matters to speak about, but +that shall be all. If Kate wants to be friends, it is for her to say +so, not me. I am not going to eat humble pie, for I have only tried to +do her good—the ungrateful thing!" + +Fanny's last words were, "Cheer up, Kate, and don't go about looking +miserable. I will soon get you a better place, and better wages too, +never fear." + +Even this promise did not take the weight from Kate's mind. Happily for +the girl, conscience was not silenced. Its voice made itself heard, +and rendered her very unhappy. She would have gladly done anything in +her power to show her regret and her honest desire to hear words of +forgiveness from Mrs. Bateson, even though she could not hope that the +notice would be withdrawn. + +She would have liked to speak to cook, but received no encouragement +from that quarter. The older servant adhered to her resolution, said +"Yes" or "No" when asked a question, put what she was obliged to say +into the fewest words possible, and then closed her lips and "kept +herself to herself." + +So, seeing that she was shunned, and that even her fellow-servants +condemned her conduct towards her mistress, Kate spent as little time +in their company as possible, but stole away to her own room, and +regretted in solitude the fault she would have been only too thankful +to acknowledge, if by so doing she could have regained her mistress's +favour. + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER III. + +MISUNDERSTANDINGS. + +MRS. BATESON at first thought of sending word to Kate's mother that +the girl would leave her place at the month's end. But after a little +consideration, she decided to wait and see how she conducted herself +in the meanwhile, as well as to give her an opportunity of asking +forgiveness. + +Mrs. Bateson naturally felt that the girl ought to do this, and would +do it if she were sensible of her fault and anxious to retain her place. + +She attributed what had passed to Fanny's evil influence, and regretted +that Kate had been brought within it. Now Fanny was gone, and if Kate +were really sorry, she had nothing to prevent her from saying so. + +Yes, there was something which neither Mrs. Bateson nor cook quite +understood. The same disposition which made Kate susceptible to any +outside influence, also rendered her timid and fearful of receiving a +rebuff. + +She was easily led and easily frightened. The one thought in her mind +was, "Everybody is against me; I have done wrong, I know, but they need +not be so hard. Cook will not speak if she can help it, the rest are +sure to do the same as she does, and Fanny, that persuaded me and got +me into trouble, has gone and left me in it. If only my mistress would +give me one kind look or word, I could speak. But I am so frightened." + +It is a great pity that people are so often brave enough to take a +wrong step, and so frightened of turning back. And it is a great pity, +too, that the elders do not always remember, that words which would +come easily from their tongues are hard to be uttered by the young, +not on account of unwillingness, but of dread as to how they will be +received and answered. + +Kate Evans went about her work with increased diligence, leaving +nothing undone, and doing everything as well as possible. She hoped +this would speak to her mistress in one way, and show her that she was +sorry and wished her to know it. But whenever Mrs. Bateson was near, +the girl seemed to shrink into herself, and she dared not express the +feelings with which her heart was full. + +Mrs. Bateson noted the careful work, but she also noticed Kate's +silence and averted looks, and mistook both. She said to herself, "Kate +is determined that she will deserve a good character for the way in +which her work is done, but she is too proud to ask forgiveness, if +indeed she wishes to stay, which I begin to doubt. She seems so sullen, +and evidently tries to avoid me as much as possible." + +Then Mrs. Bateson spoke to cook on the subject. "Do you think Kate is +sorry that she will have to leave?" she asked. + +"Indeed, ma'am, I cannot tell," was the reply. "When I spoke to her +before that pert Fanny went away, and put her in mind of what you had +done for her, and how you took her with scarce a gown to her back, and +had her clothed and taught and made into what she is, she flew up at +me like anything. That's just the way with these young girls. You take +them out of a poor place where they have had bare bread, and you bring +them into a home like a palace by comparison, and they neither know how +to value their blessings nor to be thankful for them." + +"I never used to think Kate an ungrateful girl," said Mrs. Bateson. +"I have wondered whether she was troubled and afraid to speak to me, +or stubborn and resolved not to own that she has done wrong. I feel +grieved about the girl, both for her own sake, and her mother's." + +"Indeed, ma'am," said cook, "and so do I, and disappointed too, for +being so much older I have tried to help and advise her. But when she +turned on me so, I made up my mind that unless she came to me again of +her own accord, she should take her own way. + +"I am civil to Kate, I never give her a cross word, but I only speak +about work and house matters. I think she is just 'stunt,' and having +turned in the wrong way, has made up her mind to go on. She takes +herself off to her room when she can, and is close and quiet to all +alike." + +"She is doing her work better than ever, I think." + +"Yes, ma'am, and thanks to you, she knows how it should be done, and +Fanny has told her that a three years' character from this place will +get her a pick of good situations without people troubling about how +she spends her Sundays out." + +Mrs. Bateson was very sorry to find her own impressions as to Kate's +feelings confirmed by her old and faithful servant. + +She came to the conclusion that Kate was sullen and too proud to own +her fault, whilst the girl was longing for an opportunity to speak, but +dreading that all she might say would avail nothing. + +This state of things continued for a fortnight, when Kate received a +second letter from Fanny Ellis. She had written as soon as possible +after leaving to tell Kate that she was looking out for her, and that +there were plenty of places to be had, only she wanted to get her "a +real good one," and near to herself. + +Kate was doubtful by this time whether Fanny's idea of a real good +place and her own would agree, and whether such a neighbour would +benefit her or otherwise. + +By degrees, as the girl saw that no notice was taken of her painstaking +work, no kind look or word of encouragement reached her, she began +first to despair, then to feel indignant. She shed bitter tears in the +quiet of her own little room as she said to herself, "Mrs. Bateson +might give me another chance. She must know that I am sorry, for I do +try my very best to please her. I think if I were a lady and mistress +of a great house, I would not be so hard on a young girl. It is not +likely she will ask me to stay, but she need not look so hard and cold +as to frighten me out of trying to speak. She just passes me as if she +never saw me now." + +Then angry thoughts came, and Kate began to say to herself, "I don't +care for stopping now. I should only be miserable here with cook, too, +that used to be so kind. Everybody has turned against me, and all for +one little thing. It is too bad. I know mother will be vexed at me +leaving; but she'll have to get pleased again. Mrs. Bateson cannot have +written to her yet, and I shall not till I am sure of a place." + +The certainty came just when Kate had got to this stage. + +Fanny wrote: + + "I have got you a first-rate place, and three pounds a year more wages +than you have now. All is as good as settled, for the lady, Mrs. +Maybrick, is writing for your character to-day. Mrs. Bateson cannot +help speaking well of your work. + + "Your mistress that is to be said that it was only a matter of form +writing for a character at all. Three years' service in such a place as +you are at was good enough for any one. I told you it would be, Kate, +and now you may snap your fingers at the crabby old cook, and make +yourself comfortable, for you will be quite independent of her, and +Mrs. Bateson too. + + "You will have every third Sunday out, and all to yourself. Nobody will +ask you where you go, or preach at you if you take a walk instead of +sitting in a stuffy pew with a mistress's eye on you all the while. +I'll try and get out on the same day whenever I can, and we shall not +be far off one another at any time. + + "There's just one thing you may not quite like. You will have to come +straight to Mrs. Maybrick's the day you leave your place. Her housemaid +goes four days earlier, and she is expecting company and cannot be for +longer without, but she will wait so long for you. + + "Now I hope you think I have done well for you, so with love, and +reckoning on seeing you soon, your affectionate friend,— + + "FANNY ELLIS." + +This letter confirmed Kate's indignant and independent feelings. She +wrote at once, expressing her willingness to go straight to Mrs. +Maybrick's. + +She was glad to be spared seeing her mother at present—glad, too, that +now Mrs. Bateson would have to speak to her when she was applied to for +a character, and that she should soon turn her back on all those who +had been so ready to take sides against her. + +Mrs. Maybrick's letter of inquiry surprised and pained Kate's mistress. +She did not think the girl would have gone to this length and acted +independently of her mother, for she felt sure that, had Mrs. Evans +known that her daughter was about to leave, she would at once have +come, or communicated with herself. + +When Kate was summoned to Mrs. Bateson's presence, the change in +her manner was sufficiently apparent, and all the lady's previous +impressions were confirmed. + +The girl no longer met her with downcast eyes, but stood erect, waiting +to be addressed. There was nothing pert or disrespectful, only an air +of independence about her, which could not be mistaken. + +"I do not wish to answer a letter I have just received without first +speaking to you about it, Kate," said Mrs. Bateson. "I suppose you knew +there would be an inquiry as to your character, from a Mrs. Maybrick." + +"Yes, ma'am. I heard this morning that the lady was going to write to +you," replied Kate. + +"I am afraid your mother knows nothing of this. Have you told her that +you are leaving your place, and why I was obliged to give you notice?" + +"No, ma'am. I did not want to trouble mother if I could help it. She +has plenty to do for the young ones at home, so I thought I would make +sure of another place before she knew that I was leaving here." + +"And do you think it will be no trouble to your mother that you are +acting in such a matter without asking her advice, or treating her +with the confidence a daughter is bound to give that best of earthly +friends, a loving parent?" + +Kate hesitated a little before replying, and for the moment, a slight +trembling of the lip and a flush on her cheek showed that the question +had touched her. But she conquered the softer feelings, and answered +steadily, "I did it for the best, ma'am. I had to get a place, for I +did not want to be hanging on mother." + +"Perhaps you may think I have no right to ask you any questions of +this kind as you are leaving my service, Kate, but for your mother's +sake, and for your own, too, I should like to know how you heard of the +situation at Mrs. Maybrick's," said Mrs. Bateson. + +"Fanny Ellis went after it for me. She is living at Manchester now, and +if I get the place, I shall not be very far away from her, so I shall +have one friend to speak to," replied Kate. + +"I was afraid Fanny was answerable for this, as well as for having +induced you to set our household rules at defiance when she was here. +She is not the friend your mother would choose for you, and I, too, +regret that you ever met her. + +"I must answer Mrs. Maybrick's letter at once. It will be a very +easy matter, because she only asks how you do your work; there is no +question about matters of more importance still." + +"That is," thought Kate, "she does not trouble herself whether I +pretend to be very religious or not, or make a fuss about church-going +and keeping Sunday in Mrs. Bateson's fashion. So much the better. I'll +show her I can do my work well; and I don't see that a mistress has +a right to interfere with us servants beyond the doorstep. I've had +enough of that sort of thing." + +Perhaps Mrs. Bateson read something of what was passing through the +girl's mind in the expression on her face, for there was now no sign of +softening or regret visible. + +That allusion to Mrs. Maybrick's inquiries had touched a jarring chord, +and Kate was thinking, "I've begun, and I will go through with it. +I should have been glad enough to give in and ask to be forgiven at +first; but I have had cold shoulder all round, and I do not mean to eat +humble pie to finish with." + +What the girl said aloud was, "I hope you have nothing to find fault +with about my work, ma'am. I 'have' always tried to do that well." + +In her heart, she could not help adding, "I have you to thank for all +the pains and patience, the telling and teaching that have made me into +a capable servant." But she did not say it aloud. + +It was a pity she did not, for the same thought was in her mistress's +mind, and she could not help deeply feeling Kate's indifference and +ingratitude. If only the girl had so far conquered the foolish pride +which made her unwilling to own the obligations she was under as to +utter a word of thanks! Just one short sentence would have been enough +to prove that all the kindness of three past years was not forgotten, +and that, in spite of the fault which had led to her dismissal, she was +not ungrateful. + +Kate had the chance and let it slip, and Mrs. Bateson felt that there +was nothing for it but to let her go. + +"I shall tell Mrs. Maybrick that you know the duties of such a place, +and that you do your work well. She does not ask why you are leaving." + +"I think Fanny told her all about it to save trouble," replied Kate, +who also knew that the lady had laughed on hearing the particulars, and +remarked that she should not be likely to send away a good servant for +such a trifle. + +"I feel it my duty to write to your mother now, Kate. She ought to +know both what has passed here and what you purpose doing," said Mrs. +Bateson. + +"I hope you will tell her, ma'am, that you gave me notice. I did not +want to leave, I am sure." + +"I shall tell your mother exactly what occurred, Kate, and let her know +that on Monday week I shall cease to be in any way responsible for your +movements. I can only hope that this change may be overruled for your +good, and not be the means of bringing fresh anxiety upon your mother." + +Mrs. Bateson did not condescend to answer Kate's remark that she did +not want to leave. Unaccompanied by any word of regret, it seemed +almost impertinent. What could it mean but that the girl wished to +stay, yet on her own terms and provided that she might disobey her +mistress with impunity, and set her rules at defiance whenever she +chose? + +[Illustration] + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER IV. + +A RIFT IN THE CLOUD. + +KATE was not left long in suspense. She soon received a letter from +Mrs. Maybrick to say that she was satisfied with the character given by +her present mistress, and would engage her on the terms named by Fanny +Ellis. + +She would require her to go straight from Mrs. Bateson's to her new +situation, as the servant whose place she was to take would leave three +days earlier, and it would be inconvenient to wait longer than this for +Kate. + +The girl was not sorry, for she could not feel comfortable at the +prospect of meeting her mother. For the first time in her life, the +thought of going home was not a cause of unmixed pleasure. She was +longing to see her mother, and the young brothers and sisters who +always looked forward to a visit from Kate as a something which made +home a little brighter for a while. + +During the year, the girl was accustomed to devote many of her spare +hours to the making of little garments, and turning odds and ends to +account for mother and the children. + +If all had gone well and she had been remaining in her place, she +would have had a fortnight's holiday almost directly. Many a time she +had pictured the young faces' brightening at her coming, and mother's +patient, careworn look giving place to one that was all joy and welcome. + +She would not see them now, or hear the cries of surprise and delight +as she distributed her treasures amongst the eager children. They would +have the things all the same, but not from her hand, and she could not +tell when she would see them, for Mrs. Maybrick would make no definite +promise as to holidays later on in the year. + +The lady had said to Fanny Ellis, "I will not tie myself to any +particular time, or say how long I will give. Kate must come to me at +once, and when quite convenient to the family, she shall have two or +three days. She cannot expect me to begin by giving her any length of +time." + +This seemed reasonable enough, but it cost Kate a pang, because of the +nearness of the holiday season, to which she had looked forward for +almost a year, and it was eight months since she had seen any one from +home. Seventy miles of distance was not worth naming amongst people +with plenty of money. But it meant a great deal in railway fare, and +loss of time besides, to a hard-working mother with six children under +fourteen, and only the eldest earning a trifle. Kate might well sigh +as she thought over all these things, and dread the effect of a letter +from Mrs. Bateson to her mother with the news that had to be told. + +She wished it could have been delayed until she could send a triumphant +message to say how well she was doing in a new place, and that she +would be able to spare more out of her increased wages for mother and +the little ones. + +Day after day passed, and Kate heard nothing from home. She began +to think that Mrs. Bateson had not written after all. Then a letter +came in a far better hand than her mother was able to write. It was +enclosed in one to her mistress and brought sorrowful news. Three of +the children, the youngest, were down with scarlet fever. It was hoped +the elder ones would not take it, for two of them had had it before. + +John's earnings were stopped. He was not allowed to go to his work for +fear of carrying infection. In the village where Mrs. Evans lived, +there was no cottage hospital or place within reach to which fever +cases could be taken. So the poor mother's hands were full, and there +was little doubt that her pocket would be empty or very nearly so. + +Kate could picture the state of things. Her mother was counted the +best laundress in or near Garsfield, and had thankfully said many a +time that she was never short of work. But hers was just the kind of +employment that would stop now, for even if attendance on her sick +children allowed her to carry it on, who would send their linen to an +infected house? + + "I was just going to send word that you must not come home for your +holidays," wrote Mrs. Evans by a friend's hand. "Then a letter came +from your mistress to say that you were going to leave. Oh, Katie, I +'was' sorry to read that news. Mrs. Bateson has been good to you and +far better and kinder to me than ever you knew of. Many's the parcel +of clothes, all clean and neatly mended, that I have had from her, and +such kind letters cheering me up with nice texts, telling me to trust +in God's goodness, and helping me to do it by showing me that He did +not forget our need, but put it into that dear lady's heart to supply +it. + + "Only the last time she wrote, she put such nice words in her letter +about you that I cried for joy as I read them. This was what she wrote, +'Kate is a good girl; very quiet and painstaking about her work. She +does it well, and is daily improving in every way. The sight of her as +she now is repays me for all the teaching and trouble bestowed upon +her. A good servant is a blessing in a family, and a good daughter +a treasure to a mother. I believe Kate will be a comfort to her +employers, and a true help to you and to the children as they grow up.' + + "And to think you are leaving such a home, and a mistress that has +done far more for you than ever I could, and for what? Just a bit of +wilfulness and disobedience, and to show how independent you could be +and set your mistress at defiance. + + "Oh, Katie, you will be sorry for what you have done when you come to +see the difference between a home at Heyington Hall, and the place you +have chosen to take at Manchester, without even asking your mother's +advice. I have trouble enough now, for I believe Tom is beginning with +the fever too, but the thought of you makes me more anxious than all +the rest. May God preserve you from harm! + + "Your loving mother, SARAH EVANS." + +Kate's tears fell fast as she read this letter, and she made two +resolutions, and kept them. The first was that she would send off +to her mother every penny that she could spare, reserving only the +month's wages she would receive when she left Heyington for travelling +expenses, and her own immediate needs. + +The second, that she would not leave her place without telling her +mistress that she was sorry for her disobedience and asking her to +forgive it. + +"And I will go just now," she exclaimed to herself, as she stood in her +own room with her mother's letter in her hand. "May be if I put off, I +shall get frightened again." + +Kate was right in this. It is dangerous put off the fulfilment of a +good resolution. If conscience shows us that a thing ought to be done, +better do it at once, for there is no time like the present. + +Kate went to Mrs. Bateson's morning-room and tapped at the door, then +entered in compliance with her mistress's call. Her eyes were full of +tears, her heart of true sorrow for her ingratitude and disobedience. + +She began, "I wanted to tell you, ma'am, that I am so sorry for—" and +then the faltering tongue and quivering lips failed her, and she broke +down and sobbed bitterly. + +Mrs. Bateson thought that Kate wanted to tell about the state of things +at home, and despite the reason she had to be displeased with the girl, +she sympathised with her present distress. + +"Do not try to repeat the sad news, Kate," she said, kindly. "I know +all about it, for your note came in one addressed to me. I am truly +grieved for your poor mother and sorry for you too." + +"I was not going to speak about that," sobbed out Kate. "Mother said +she had told you, ma'am. I only wanted to—to tell you that I see I have +done wrong, and I am ashamed and sorry for having displeased you. You +have been a deal too good to me and so kind to poor mother. But please +forgive me before I go away, for I am sorry—indeed I am." + +Kate hid her face in her apron and sobbed like a very child, and she +stood awaiting her mistress's answer. + +Mrs. Bateson believed that the girl was in earnest. She had always been +truthful and straightforward, and she could not doubt that she was +equally so in her acknowledgment of wrong-doing. + +"I do forgive you, Kate," she said, "and I am truly glad that you have +been enabled to see that you were wrong. Of course, we must part now; +but if you had come to me sooner, as you have come to-day, and asked to +remain, I should have kept you, because I thought you had been misled." + +"I wanted to come," said Kate, "but I was afraid. I tried to do my work +'so' well, and I hoped you would notice and maybe say a word or just +look as if you were pleased. But you mostly looked the other way, and +I thought it would be no use, for I had twice done what was against +rules, and I felt sure you would keep your word, and I should have to +go. You always do keep your word, ma'am," said Kate, simply. "And then +cook scolded me and told me how you had taken me without clothes to my +back and given me wages when I wasn't worth my salt. That you'd clothed +me and taught me and made me what I am, and now I was turning round and +showing how impudent and ungrateful I could be. + +"It was all true—I know that—only cook needn't have flung it at me in +that way. Then she never spoke to me if she could help it, and the +others seemed to take sides against me. So I felt that it would be +of no use for me to do anything; I should only be miserable whilst I +stayed, and the sooner I was gone the better, for I could never bear +either to be 'set at,' as cook did, or to be without a friend to speak +to. And cook used to be so good to me," added Kate, with a fresh flood +of tears. + +"She meant to be kind then, Kate, only I am afraid she did not set +about it quite in the right way. Many people think that if what they +say is true, it does not matter how truth is spoken. They forget that +Jesus bade us speak it in love. + +"Well, now, I am glad you have owned that you were wrong, and sorry you +did not speak sooner. I am afraid I mistook your timidity for pride, +and thought you were determined not to bend. I did feel, like cook, +that you were proud and ungrateful. I am truly glad you have opened +your heart to me, and shown that in this I was mistaken." + +Kate smiled through her tears. She was very much of a child still, +impulsive and easily led, though she had been boasting of her womanhood +and right to judge for herself so short a time ago. Now she poured out +her eager thanks for past kindnesses, present forgiveness, and all the +goodness shown to her mother. If she could have read her mistress's +thoughts, she would have found she was regretting that she could not +keep the penitent girl, and care for her as she had done in the past. + +"You know, Kate, that you must keep your engagement, and go to Mrs. +Maybrick," she said. + +"Yes, ma'am; it would not be right to do anything else." + +"You will find life in a large city different from your peaceful home +at Heyington; but remember God will be no farther from you, and you +will more than ever need His Holy Spirit's aid to show you what you +ought to do. Pray for it, Kate. Ask God to forgive all past sins and +failures for the sake of that dear Saviour who died to buy pardon for +us poor helpless sinners, who shed His blood that it might wash us from +every stain of guilt, and pay the debt we could never pay by any work +of ours. + +"We will ask His pardon and blessing now," added Mrs. Bateson. + +And kneeling side by side, mistress and maid joined in prayer, the one +uttering the petitions, the other uniting heart and soul therein. + +Kate had not felt so happy for a long time as she did when she left +her mistress's room, for she carried with her a blessed sense of +forgiveness, an assurance that Mrs. Bateson would still act as a friend +and helper to her poor mother, and that should a season of difficulty +come to herself, she might write and ask for advice which would not be +withheld. + +Cheered by her success, Kate said a few words to her old friend the +cook, which cleared away the cloud from between them. Cook was ready to +meet the girl more than half way, having probably been enlightened by +her mistress as to her real feelings. + +"I know I am hasty," she said, "and may be I spoke a bit sharper than +I need have done. But I meant to be kind, and now I am real sorry you +are going. However, we shall hear how you get on, and if you are not +comfortable, there's no saying what may happen. The mistress is always +better than her word, even though that is good enough." + +Kate knew this. All the past time at Heyington told her that Mrs. +Bateson had done more for her than she at first promised, and how much +for her mother beside. + +"I shall never have such another mistress," she said to herself, "and +if I wanted to come back, there is sure to be no opening for me. All +the servants stay on here. Except Fanny Ellis, they have known when +they were well off." + +The last days seemed to go faster than any, and the last hour of all +came when Kate's good-byes had to be said. Hers were hindered by tears, +and she felt as if it had gone dark all at once as she lost sight of +the kind faces and waving handkerchiefs of her old companions, and a +turn of the road shut out her view of Heyington Hall. + +But she was resolved to do her best in her new place, and she had heard +again from her mother, to whom also Mrs. Bateson had written, oh, so +kindly, and she had left in peace and goodwill with everybody—that was +something. She must look onward and upward, seeking God's help, and not +make herself unfit for work by grieving over what was past mending. + +[Illustration] + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER V. + +THE FIRST NIGHT IN A NEW HOME. + +MRS. BATESON had arranged that Kate should reach her new place by +daylight, as she was little used to travelling. The double journey from +Heyington to her village home and back, once in the year, was the limit +of her experience. + +She had sent word to Fanny Ellis that she would reach Victoria Station +at four o'clock, and half hoped that she might see her familiar face +greeting her with a look of welcome. But no; all faces were alike +strange, and Kate found herself bewildered and lonely as she stepped +into the midst of a hurrying crowd. + +She had rather a long drive, and the cab fare seemed a great deal for +her to pay, especially now that her mother's need made every penny +doubly precious. + +She had cherished many dreams of city life, and thought it would be +nice to be where there was so much to be seen, and people were not +always looking at the same few faces. At Heyington, everybody knew +everybody else, and one day passed very much like another, and in the +same round of duties. + +Fanny Ellis used to say that she would as soon be buried alive as stay +there. It might do for mistresses who could go away for weeks or months +at a time and whenever they liked, but not for servants who had a bit +of life in them. Yet until brought into contact with Fanny, Kate had +been more than contented, and thanked God for having given her a good +home and a kind friend in her mistress. + +During her drive to her new place of service, Kate was not very +pleasantly impressed by what she saw. + +The buildings were everywhere blackened with smoke, the very sky seemed +to be grey instead of blue, though the day was hot and the sun was +shining brightly. + +When she got out of the cab, she noticed that the very leaves, instead +of being a vivid green like those at Heyington, were coated over +with black, and yet she was by no means near the heart of the city. +Evidently her new home was in a good neighbourhood, for the houses were +mostly detached and with more or less ground about them. + +"Any way," thought Kate, "I shall be away from the dreadful noise +of the streets. It bewildered me and made me wish myself back at +Heyington." + +She was met at the door by another servant, who said, "I suppose you +are the new housemaid-waitress. I'm glad you are come in good time, for +being short of one pair of hands we are rather at sixes and sevens. +I'll help you upstairs with your things. They call you Kate, don't +they?" + +Kate thanked her and said, "Yes." + +"Well, my name is Sarah. I'm waitress and housemaid number one, and you +are to be number two, you know. Mrs. Maybrick says you have not been +much used to waiting, but she has arranged for you to help me, same as +the last one did. This is our room." + +It was a long way up, and seemed to Kate very large and desolate +looking, though there were three beds in it—so different in comfort to +the one she had left that morning. + +"I suppose some one else sleeps here beside me?" said Kate, glancing +from side to side, and noticing that there were no drawers in the room, +or anything but the servants' boxes for holding their clothes. + +"I should think so," replied Sarah, with a laugh. "You didn't expect a +room to yourself, I hope. It is what I never had in a town place." + +"I had at Heyington Hall, the only situation I have lived in till now," +replied Kate. "Such a nice little room it was." + +"You were in luck's way, then. I wonder you left. Well, you see, this +is not a nice little room, or a nice big one for that matter, for +there are only scraps of carpet just to step on to, and three chairs, +one apiece for us—cook, and you, and me. We three join at this room. +Nurse is lower down with the children. This great barn of a place and a +box-room run over the whole house, and are top of all. + +"We are well out of Mrs. Maybrick's way up here, that is one comfort, +though it does not look very cheerful in summer, and it is very cold in +winter time." + +"It does seem rather bare," said Kate, who in her passage upstairs had +noted the handsome furniture and profusion of ornaments to be seen in +every direction in the lower part of the house. + +[Illustration: Heyington Hall.] + +"I can guess what you are thinking of," said Sarah, with a knowing +look. "You did not shut your eyes as you came up here, and now you are +saying to yourself, that when they were furnishing, they might have put +a thing or two less down below, and some decent sets of drawers and +such like in our bedroom. You see we have to hang our gowns on nails, +up and down as we can, and cover them from the dust with wrappers made +out of old morning frocks. And Manchester dust 'is' black, I can tell +you." + +"Everything looked dingy to me, coming from a bright country place, +where there are no big chimneys and so little smoke," said Kate. + +"Yes, you'll find it out soon enough," replied Sarah, who was quite +delighted at being able to air her own grievances, and, perhaps, took +some pleasure in heightening them in the eyes of the new comer. + +"You'd better make haste," she added, "and get your things off, so as +to come down and help me. This is your bed. You can pop your gowns +on it till you have time to hang them up. I must go or I shall be +behindhand. We have company to dinner, and I believe the missis has +come in. I'll tell her you are here. Don't be afraid, she will not +trouble to come up so high. She seldom sees this place. I wish she +would just come straight from her own room to this, then she might +notice the difference, and mend matters a bit for us servants." + +Sarah hurried away, and Kate lost no time in following her. She thought +Mrs. Maybrick would want to speak to her, for at Heyington a new comer +was always called into Mrs. Bateson's room, and, after a few words +of kindly welcome, spoken to about her duties and the rules of the +household, so that there could be no mistake. + +She was encouraged to go to her mistress in any time of difficulty, and +cheered by the assurance that she would find not only an employer, but +a friend who would advise and help her in time of need, if she strove +to do right. + +Kate could remember her own arrival at the Hall—a raw, untaught, +frightened girl, with hardly courage to answer when she was asked a +question. + +She could picture again Mrs. Bateson's kind face, and hear her +inquiries after the mother and those she had left behind. And she +remembered, too, how she bade her kneel down, and kneeling beside +her, asked God that her coming might prove a blessing to herself, her +friends at a distance, and all under that roof. + +Kate seemed again to hear her old mistress asking that God's Holy +Spirit, the one unfailing Guide and Teacher, might be given to lead her +in the right way, and strengthen her for the duties before her. + +The memory brought tears to the girl's eyes, and surely it was by the +enlightening power of that Holy Spirit that she was enabled to see more +clearly her ingratitude towards her best earthly friends, her want of +consideration for her mother, her own unthankfulness for the pleasant +places in which, by the good providence of God, her lines had been cast +during three peaceful past years. + +She could not help taking a few moments to kneel in that desolate +looking room, to repeat again the prayer formerly offered on her behalf +by her mistress, to cry for pardon for Jesus' sake, and to thank God +for her safe journey. Then she went down, feeling brighter and happier, +to begin her new duties. + +Sarah noted traces of tears on Kate's cheeks, and being a really +good-natured girl, though much given to gossip, she half regretted that +she had said what might perhaps have frightened the new comer. + +"Don't you get down-hearted," she said to Kate. "There's worse places +than this, you may take my word for it; and I have been here over a +twelvemonth. There's good food and plenty of it, for master is rich, +and Mrs. Maybrick has money of her own, as she'd need to have, seeing +what goes on fads and finery in this house. + +"She doesn't bother us servants much, so long as things are fairly +done. We are kept going—no mistake about that, for there's a deal of +company invited, and no stinginess. Mrs. Maybrick isn't one to take +care of the pence, or pounds either, for that matter. + +"And when you have a holiday, it is your own day. No poking and prying, +as Fanny Ellis says you had in your old place. You were right not to +stand it. I wouldn't be obliged to go here and there, like a child, in +the time that I call my own, for the best mistress that ever stepped." + +The words were kindly meant, and Kate forced a smile and thanked the +speaker. But she was already beginning to realise that the mistress who +did not trouble herself as to the going out and coming in of a young +girl who was far away from her home and her mother, was not likely to +be a friend to whom she might venture to go in any time of trouble, or +who, in sickness, would have much sympathy to bestow. + +Kate did not see Mrs. Maybrick until she was seated at the dinner +table. Her own share of the waiting was small, and chiefly confined +to fetching and carrying, as there were hired helpers. It was very +late before she went to her own room, and she was feeling wearied +out in mind and body by her anxious thoughts, the journey, and the +unaccustomed long hours. + +Before she could lie down, she must put her clothes into something like +order, though she scarcely knew how to begin, and wondered how she +would ever be able to maintain the tidy careful habits which she had +been taught by her late mistress. + +There were no spare nails for her gowns, so she guessed rightly that +when her predecessor left, those used by her had been taken by the +others. In spite of this, there were articles of clothing, both clean +and soiled, lying about in corners, and the very untidiness of the room +made her feel oppressed and miserable. + +The cook and Sarah were asleep before she extinguished the gas. The +latter bade her good-night, and added, "I will help you to straighten +up a bit to-morrow, and we'll drive in some more nails. It's too late +now for anything but sleep, for I'm dead tired." + +Too tired for prayer evidently, for both cook and Sarah dispensed with +that, or at any rate they did not kneel before they got into bed. + +Kate moved as gently as she could, and when the light was out, she +knelt to pray with perhaps a greater sense of want than she had ever +felt in her life before. Absent from all whom she could call her true +friends, she realised for the first time what a blessed thing it is +that Our Father in heaven is always near and willing to hear and answer +even his ungrateful and disobedient children, if they come to Him with +the name of Jesus on their lips, and pleading the merits of His love, +and life, and death for sinners. + +After she lay down, Kate could not sleep, though greatly in need of +rest. The bed had been hastily made up, and the bedding thrown on after +any fashion, for servants are not always careful for each other's +comforts, and the thought, "If she does not like it, let her do it +herself," is not an uncommon one amongst those who serve under the same +roof. + +Kate found her bed hard and lumpy, her bedding uneven and rumpled, +and two-thirds of it on one side reaching the floor, whilst the other +barely covered the mattress. She would amend these things for herself +on the morrow, but in the meanwhile, they and her troubled thoughts +kept her from enjoying the much-needed sleep. + +She felt thankful to Mrs. Bateson as she lay, wakeful yet weary, for +having encouraged her to commit to memory texts of Scripture, and for +having called her into the room when she gathered her children to give +them simple Bible lessons, and allowed her to share them. + +Kate was as ignorant of these precious truths as of the household +duties she would have to perform when she first went to Heyington. She +owed everything that was best, under God, to her late good mistress. + +The texts meant more to her now than they had hitherto done. + + "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call +upon Him in truth;" + + "Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee,—" + +were amongst those which came to mind for her comfort. + +And she could take the comfort, though feeling her unworthiness, +because she was in earnest in her sorrow for her wilfulness, and in now +as earnestly desiring guidance from above. + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER VI. + +KATE'S SUNDAY OUT. + +IT was late on the following morning when Mrs. Maybrick made her +appearance. Sarah had taken her breakfast upstairs, but she said to +Kate afterwards, "It will be your work to carry breakfasts to bedrooms +when they are wanted, but mistress wished me to do it this time, you +being a new comer. She seems rather taken with you, for she said to me, +'The new housemaid is one of the neatest looking girls I have seen for +a long time.'" + +Kate was glad that she had made a good impression, and later on, Mrs. +Maybrick meeting her on the landing said a few careless words to her. + +"Sarah will show you where things are, and tell you how the work has +always been divvied between her and the housemaid. If there is anything +special you want to ask about, such as you might want to come to me +for, you may see nurse. She will tell you as well as I can, or perhaps +better." + +Before Kate had time to say a word, Mrs. Maybrick had swept past her +and was going down to her carriage, which had already been waiting for +nearly an hour on the drive. + +From Sarah, Kate heard all about the establishment. + +There were really six female servants, though only four slept in the +house. Two young girls, the coachman's daughters, filled the places +of kitchen-maid and under-nurse, but went home at nights. The latter +carried up the nursery meals, and was entirely under the orders of the +head-nurse, a good, trustworthy woman, as Sarah acknowledged. + +"Mrs. Maybrick does not spend much time with the children. She 'calls +on them' in a morning, and sometimes besides. She buys them lots of +finery, though the eldest is but six and the other three are younger, +and she is very proud of their prettiness, for they are darling little +things. + +"However, she does what is next best to looking after them herself, she +gives them somebody that does, for Mrs. Ashley is a real good woman, +and no children are better cared for. All the washing is done out." + +Kate's looks seemed to say that there must be little for the servants +to do, and Sarah read the expression. + +"I daresay you are thinking that we have easy times, but don't you run +away with that notion. When a house is crammed with gimcracks till you +can hardly turn, there's work enough for one keeping them dusted. Then +there's no order. No two days' dinner at the same time, and no knowing +when breakfast can be cleared away, whether Mrs. Maybrick will have it +upstairs or down, or at what time one will get to bed. + +"The master lunches in the city, but mostly dines at home, and we +seldom miss having some company on a Sunday. That is why we only get +one out in three." + +"But don't the master and mistress go to church, or anywhere on +Sundays?" asked Kate. + +"Sometimes, but quite 'unregular,' like everything else here," said +Sarah. + +"And I suppose you do not have family prayers, or on other Sundays a +chance of going to a place of worship if you want to, just once, I +mean, and nowhere else?" said Kate. + +"Well, you are a queer one!" exclaimed Sarah, wiping her eyes after +a hearty fit of laughter. "Why, I thought it was because you had too +many prayers and too much church-going that you left your last place. +Fanny Ellis said so. And here the first thing you ask about is whether +you can get out once on Sunday just for church, and if we have prayers +in the house? I'm sorry for you, but you'll have to do without family +Bible reading and every week church-going, and when your Sunday out +comes, I fancy you will be glad enough to get as much pleasure out of +it as you can." + +Kate's face flushed as she listened to Sarah's bantering remarks, but +she did not answer sharply as she at first felt tempted to do. She +found courage to say, "I am afraid I was very foolish, and did not know +how to value all the privileges I had and the kindness I received in my +last place. + +"I did not like the notion of being forced to go to a place of worship, +but I never thought of that until Fanny put it into my head, and I +shall miss my old quiet Sundays very much, I am sure. It seems a +dreadful long time to wait three weeks for a chance of going, but I do +not think I shall stay away when I get one." + +This conversation was repeated to Fanny Ellis by Sarah at the first +opportunity, and the two girls laughed over it together. + +"I told you she was just as weak as water," said Fanny. "You may turn +her round your fingers. Before I went to Heyington, she was as meek +as a mouse, and did not know she was being treated like a baby till I +showed her the leading-strings. Then she turned straight round and fell +in with everything I said. She got notice through it, and as I had, in +a way, drawn her into a scrape, I thought I must get her out of it. Now +she is in another place, she will have to shift for herself." + +"She seems likely to shift round again to her old ways. Just what might +be expected from her sort. Give her plenty of a thing, and she does not +want it. Take it from her, and she cries after it. However, her Sunday +out can never be mine, thank goodness! So she will not be in my way." + +"Nor in mine," said Fanny, with a laugh. + +"Why, I reckoned your Sunday and hers would come together. They ought +to do." + +"But I've changed with cook." + +"What have you done that for?" asked Sarah, seeing a meaning look on +Fanny's face. + +The latter laughed, coloured, and then replied, "Well, if you must know +why, I am managing to have my day different from Kate's, it is because +two's company and three's none." + +"Oh, you sly thing! Tell me all about it this minute," said Sarah. + +And the two became at once so deeply interested in giving and receiving +confidences, that they forgot Kate altogether for the time. + +The three weeks came to an end at last, and Kate was free to make what +use she chose of the day of rest. Never in her life had she so felt the +need of it. The days had gone quickly enough, though the working hours +had been much longer in her new place than they used to be at Heyington. + +Her life was such an unrestful one now. Want of regularity in the +domestic arrangements increased the work, and Kate found that there was +indeed a vast difference between the effect of the pure country air +and the smoke-laden atmosphere of Manchester, both upon clothing and +furniture. She desired to be as neat in the city as she had been in the +village, and to keep everything in a state of spotless cleanliness. But +to do this, she had to change her gowns oftener, and to work harder. + +She had always been used to put in a stitch in time. Now she found it +difficult to secure a few moments for this purpose until bedtime, and +then was often too tired to do it. These three weeks had shown her +that the extra wages would barely meet the increased wear and tear of +clothes, and that she might give up the hope of doing more for her +mother out of her earnings. + +Kate had some sources of comfort, however. + +The children were getting better. There was no gap in the little flock +at home. Friends and neighbours had been good and hopeful, Mrs. Bateson +had increased her aid according to the special need for it, and there +was every prospect that this season of trouble would be tided over +better than could have been expected. + +Kate wept over the letter, written this time in her mother's +unscholarly hand, but doubly precious because it was her very own. And +from her heart, she echoed the words,— + + "I do believe that Mrs. Bateson is one of the best and dearest ladies +in the world. May God bless her and pay her back, is my daily prayer." + +Kate was glad to know too that Mrs. Maybrick was satisfied with the +way in which she did her work. Ashley, the head-nurse, told her this, +and said that her mistress had noticed how orderly she was, and how +thoroughly she performed her duties. She hoped she would be strong +enough for the place. + +"Did Mrs. Maybrick say that you were to tell me she was pleased?" asked +Kate, with a brightening face. + +"No," replied the nurse, "but I thought you would like to know how she +spoke about you. The mistress seldom does praise a girl to her face. I +believe she is afraid it might make her think too much of herself, or +want higher wages, or something." + +Kate's countenance fell a little at this; so different again from Mrs. +Bateson, who was ever on the look out for something to praise, and +whose encouraging words had many a time cheered the girl on to new +efforts in the right direction. + +These occasional visits to the nursery were Kate's greatest comfort, +for Ashley was a motherly woman, and strove to say a word in season to +the lonely girl. + +Then the pretty children reminded her of those at Heyington, whom she +had dearly loved, and of the small flock in her humble home. There +might be little else in common, but there were dear child faces in hall +and cottage, and in Kate's memory pictures, they gathered in one group. + +The girl had never felt so lonely. Sarah troubled herself little about +her, except to joke her about carrying such a long face; Fanny Ellis +was too much occupied by her own private affairs to care whether Kate +was or was not happy. The cook was devoted to her art, elated with +success, and very grumpy if anything went wrong. Dinners and dishes +were the only subjects she cared to talk of, and Kate could only listen +patiently when she chose to speak of these. Out of doors she knew no +one. + +On that first Sunday morning out, she hesitated which way to go, but +she was quite resolved that it should be to some place of worship, and +following a stream of people evidently bent on a similar errand, she +soon found herself once more joining in prayer and praise as a member +of a Christian congregation. + +Oh the comfort, rest, peace it gave her to enjoy again the Sabbath +blessings to which she had been accustomed, though without realising +all she would lose if deprived of them. Words in the lessons, psalms, +and from the preacher's lips seemed meant expressly for her, and she +listened as if she could not bear to lose one. + +To the surprise of her fellow-servants, she went back to the house, had +her dinner with them, and took her share of waiting at lunch time. + +"You need not have come in at all till ten o'clock," said Sarah, +astonished at seeing Kate in the middle of the day. + +"I knew that, but where could I go? I have no relations in Manchester," +replied Kate. + +"There are places enough for walking in and plenty to see for a country +girl like you even on Sundays, though shops are shut. Before your next +day out, you must let me contrive for you. + +"I dare say you will not mind about going out this afternoon, and if +so, may be you will take my—not work—it would only be answering the +door if anybody came," suggested Sarah. + +"I am going out again, Sarah. I need all I can get, seeing I have but +one Sunday in three," returned Kate. + +She did not say what it was she needed, neither did her companion +guess, but replied, "That is right enough, and I don't blame you. I +only wonder at your coming in now." + +If she had followed Kate, she would have seen her at the door of the +same church she attended in the morning, hoping for an afternoon +service. There was none, however, but the person of whom she inquired +told her there was a Bible-class for grown-up people, open to all +comers, and she could attend that if she liked, and he would show her +the room where it was held. + +Kate thanked him and gladly took her place amongst a number of others, +and thus spent a profitable hour. At the close, the teacher, a +grey-haired lady, said a few kind words to the stranger, and asked her +to come again. + +Kate explained that she could only be present every third Sunday. + +"Come when you can then," said the lady. "You will always be welcome." +And she shook hands with the girl and bade her "good-bye for the +present." + +Ah! It was like Heyington days to see that kind face and listen to the +sweet messages telling of God's love in Christ Jesus, of the blood that +cleanseth from all sin, and of the blessed Spirit who shows the sinner +his need, and then bids him find enough to satisfy his longing soul in +the Saviour, the Lamb provided by God Himself. + +Again Kate walked homeward, taking a little longer road, for the sake +of quiet thought out of doors. There was no refuge for her within, for +cook's custom was always to spend the early Sunday afternoons on her +bed, in the large attic shared by the three, and only to rise in time +to prepare the late dinner. No quiet little nest of a room in which +Kate might think, read, or pray. + +"But God is everywhere," she said to herself, with a joyful heart. "And +God's true servants are alike everywhere too, for that dear lady at the +Bible-class spoke and looked with a loving tone and a face that just +put me in mind of my dear good mistress at Heyington." + +Kate sighed at the memory, but rejoiced that she had been guided to +this little haven of rest and of Christian communion and sympathy. +The girl was indeed right. One and the same spirit animates God's +true people wherever they are found, and they are ever mindful of the +commandment, "That he who loveth God, love his brother also." + +Evening saw Kate again amongst the greater gathering of worshippers, +and saying to herself, "At my old place I could only go once to church, +and I sometimes thought that once too often. Now, I am so glad to be +here as frequently as I can, for this Sunday's service will have to +last me for three whole weeks." + +But even Sarah could not help noticing that night what a much brighter +look there was on Kate's face, though she would never have guessed what +brought it there. + +Far from it. She thought to herself, "Quiet as Kate is, she has picked +up some acquaintance or other. She said something about a Bible-class +to nurse, and by all accounts Sunday schools and such like are not so +bad for making friends at. + +"I remember an old mistress of mine that would not let a young servant +go to a Sunday-school when the parson asked her, and said, * 'Such +schools are only meeting places for lads and lasses.' And the parson +took it in real good part and said, 'Don't you think they had better +meet there, as teachers and scholars, than in the streets, low places +of amusement, or the public-house?' He got over the old lady with that +quite nicely. + +"Well, if Kate has picked up a young man, I'll get it out of her. Let +me alone for ferreting out a secret." + + * Quite true. + +If Sarah could have seen the face of the grey-haired lady, Kate's new +acquaintance, she would have been surprised. + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER VII. + +A MISTAKE CONFESSED. + +MRS. MAYBRICK had felt doubtful whether Kate would be strong enough for +her place, and at the end of two months, the girl herself was beginning +to doubt it too. + +The long hours, the ceaseless round of work, the rare Sabbath rest, the +general unquiet of a house, where dress, costly entertainments, and +outdoor amusements were the only things thought of by the heads of it, +began to tell upon the girl. + +Her face became pale, her step slower and heavier, and though she +continued to do her work in the old painstaking way, she could scarcely +get through it. + +At Heyington, wages were paid monthly and to the day, but at the two +months' end, Kate had received nothing from Mrs. Maybrick. She ventured +to ask Ashley about this, and the nurse told her that she need not be +anxious about her money. + +"No scarcity of that in this house," she said, "only the mistress does +not care to be troubled with monthly payments. You will get your wages +at the quarter or thereabouts, perhaps a week or two after date, or +just as likely that much before, according as it comes into her head. +If you had made a bargain beforehand, I dare say you would have got it +monthly, with a little grumble, for asking for it out of the regular +way." + +"Regular! As if anything were regular in that house," thought Kate, +"when even the quarterly payments depend on the mistress's memory." + +"Don't you think Mrs. Maybrick puts the dates down?" she asked, with a +face of alarm which appealed to Ashley's kind heart. + +"To be sure she does, only she is so busy with her parties and things +that she may not look at her book just when the reminder is wanted, +you know. Are you short of money? Because if you are, I can lend you a +little," said the nurse. + +"I have not a penny," said Kate, tears filling her eyes as she owned +her poverty. + +Then she told how, counting on monthly payments, she had sent all she +could to her mother, and that sundry necessary expenses had exhausted +the few shillings left after paying for her journey to Manchester. + +"And things dirty sooner and wear faster here," she said, "for I cannot +get time for sewing." + +"I know that, for I was once a young girl in a town place like you are. +Here, take this ten shillings, and if you want more before the quarter, +you shall have it. City hours do not suit you, I am afraid," she added. +"You made a mistake when you left the country to better yourself." + +"I did, indeed," said Kate, after gratefully thanking the nurse for the +loan. "If I had to choose again—but it is of no use grieving. This is +a good place in many ways. I ought not to complain, for Mrs. Maybrick +never scolds." + +Nurse knew that she never would. If a girl did not suit or neglected +her work, no trouble was taken with her. She had to leave, and another +came in her stead. If she broke down in health, the result was the +same. She was there to do certain work for wages, not to be waited on +or nursed. + +Mrs. Maybrick did not scold or sympathise. The incapable—whether +through her fault or misfortune—had to go, and there was an end of the +matter. As a rule, there was not even an inquiry where she would go to. +Work and wages. No work, no wages, and mistress and maid parted, to be +equally "out of sight, out of mind, for the future." + +Kate held on till the quarter's end. She had come to Manchester in +June, and now it was the middle of September. It would evidently be the +few days after time in her case before her wages were paid, for Mr. and +Mrs. Maybrick were away from home. But Ashley kindly took care that she +suffered no inconvenience from the want of them. + +"I'll tell you what it is, my girl," said the nurse; "you will have to +get back to the country. You get thinner and paler every day, and it is +plain that town air does not suit you." + +"I don't feel well," replied Kate; "and yet I hardly know what is the +matter with me, because I have no particular aches and pains. Only my +limbs feel heavy, and I find the work harder to get through than I did. +I am not so young as I was," she added, borrowing one of cook's excuses +for sleeping on Sunday afternoons, and making a poor attempt at a laugh +over her weakness. + +Ashley looked pityingly at the girl and said, "If I were you, Kate, I +would write to your old mistress, and ask her if she will help you to a +place any where near where you lived before. It is not likely she would +take you back even if she could, but from all you have told me, she is +very kind, and the best friend you ever had." + +"I do not think I ought to ask her to help me," replied Kate, sadly +enough. + +"Is it that you don't like to humble yourself to ask? If you have any +feeling of that sort, put pride in your pocket, my girl. Setting aside +even the thought of whether it is right or wrong, let me tell you +nobody can afford to lose such a friend as that lady has been to you, +if they can any way keep her." + +"I am not proud, nurse. Mrs. Bateson knows how sorry I was for having +behaved so ungratefully to her. There is never a day that I do not +think of her goodness, and of the happy home I had at Heyington. But I +do not deserve that she should take any trouble for me, or that I ought +to ask for more when she has done so much for mother and the children +beside, even since I left." + +"I think that sort of feeling often keeps us from going to a greater +and better Master than all earthly employers," said nurse. "And yet, if +we would but believe it, those who most feel that they deserve nothing +are most welcome. It is the good-for-nothings, and the people who are +'all wants,' as one may say, and who are over head and ears in debt, +and have neither money nor price to bring along with them, to whom God +by His Holy Spirit is always crying, 'Come.' + +"And if they listen and go to Him, He supplies their wants, forgives +their sins, applies Christ's righteousness to them so that they are +accepted for the sake of what He did. He shows them that Jesus paid +that debt of theirs which has been troubling them so sorely, and that, +though He has done and given so much already, the more they ask, the +more ready He is to give." + +"I believe that," said Kate. "Indeed, I know it is true." + +"You are a happy girl then," replied Ashley, "and the thought of it +should make you willing to go to Mrs. Bateson. Go, I mean by writing +and opening your heart to her." + +"I don't quite see," said Kate, in a hesitating way. + +"Do you not feel sure that Mrs. Bateson is a real Christian lady?" + +"Yes, indeed, or she never would have been so good to me." + +"Then she must have in her something of the spirit that is in Jesus +Himself. You say she forgave you. I suppose you don't think she would +profess to do it without meaning what she said, that would be a poor +sort of half-and-half forgiveness. Our Father forgives and blesses. The +disciples are told, 'Be tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as +God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' + +"Now you see, Kate, the forgiveness of the Christian will be like that +of the Master. Depend on it, your old mistress would be glad to do you +good, if she could see how. She has seen it and done it, too, already, +through your mother and the children." + +"I will write, nurse," said Kate; "and thank you with all my heart for +your kindness. You have cheered me many a time, and with such a friend +as you, I could work on, if only I felt strong enough." + +"God bless you, my girl," was Nurse Ashley's answer, as she put her +motherly arms round Kate and kissed her as she would have kissed her +own absent daughter—for she was a widow with an only child who was +cared for by an aunt—"I wish you were fit to stay, but it will be +better for you to go if you can." + +Kate lost no time in carrying out her resolution, and before she slept +that night, she had written to Mrs. Bateson. + +It was a very simply-worded letter, but it came from a full heart and +in it the girl, encouraged by Ashley's advice, ventured to tell all +that had befallen her since she came to Manchester. Her loneliness, her +longings after the home she had left behind, and of the sense of its +value which so soon came to her amidst her new surroundings. + +She told of the Sundays spent indoors, and of that first day out, +when she could choose her own way of spending it,—of the thankfulness +with which she sought the House of God, and availed herself of its +privileges, and of the Bible-class to which she had so fortunately been +led. + +She did not forget to mention the grey-haired lady who had shown a +kindly interest in her from that first meeting, or nurse's advice which +had decided her to write to her old mistress, though she could not help +feeling that she was taking a great liberty in doing it. + +There were no complaints of Mrs. Maybrick, or of the difference in +comfort and order between the two places. She was glad to tell that +her present mistress had never found fault with the way in which her +work was done, only Manchester did not seem to suit her health. And she +was nearly always feeling tired now, but she thought if she could only +get back to a quiet country place, she should be well directly. This +was why she ventured to ask if Mrs. Bateson knew of any such place and +would speak for her. + +Kate felt as if a load were lifted from her mind when that letter was +posted. She did not think the answer would be long in coming, for Mrs. +Bateson was always particular about replying soon. + +Hope made the girl look brighter, and brought a little flush to her +cheeks, but it did not last. + +On the following day, Mr. and Mrs. Maybrick returned, and the former +noticed Kate's pallor, and spoke of it to his wife. + +"I think," said he, "that young housemaid of yours is going to +break down. She looks wretchedly ill, so different from the rosy, +healthy-complexioned girl that came here—how long is it since?" + +"About three months. And by the way, her wages must be due." + +And Mrs. Maybrick, on referring to her book, found that they ought to +have been paid a fortnight before. She was not ungenerous, and she at +once called Kate, gave her the amount, and added a trifle as a present, +saying, "I have been pleased with your work so far, and hope you will +go on as you have begun." + +Then she left Kate without giving her an opportunity of answering. + +"You are right about that girl's looks, Arthur," she remarked to her +husband. "She has gone off terribly." + +"Did you ask her if she had been ill during our absence?" + +"No, I am certain she has not been laid by. And unless a girl actually +tells me she is ill, I think it is better to take no notice. Servants +are generally ready enough to complain if a finger aches. I should be +sorry to part with Kate. She has been thoroughly trained, knows her +work, and does it without any fuss. + +"But we have visitors coming in a fortnight, and I could not keep her +to be waited on. I hope, if she is going to break down, it will be +before they arrive, or not until they have left us again." + +And that was all the feeling excited in Mrs. Maybrick by the sight of +Kate's pale cheeks, and the dark rings round her heavy eyes. Her remark +about the readiness of servants to complain was less than just, and +particularly in Kate's case, for the girl had said nothing, except on +the one occasion to the nurse, and then with no desire that her words +should be repeated to her mistress. She was really most anxious to do +her work and to remain where she was until, after proper notice, she +might leave for some place the duties of which would not be beyond her +strength. + +She looked eagerly for a reply from her old mistress, and after the +time arrived at which it might have been expected, she waited the +postman's coming with feverish anxiety. But for ten days she looked in +vain. No letter came from Mrs. Bateson. + +[Illustration] + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER VIII. + +HOPE DEFERRED-FAITH JUSTIFIED. + +"HAVE you not heard yet, Kate?" asked nurse, as she noted the girl's +disappointed face, after opening the door to the postman on the tenth +morning after her letter went. + +Kate shook her head. + +"Then depend on it Mrs. Bateson is from home." + +"But, think how long it is since my letter went. When she is away, the +letters are always forwarded. She must have had mine before now, and +she is not going to answer." + +Ashley would not agree to this. Her faith was stronger than Kate's, +though she had never seen the object of it. + +"Depend on it, if Mrs. Bateson has got your letter, she is trying to +hear of something before answering it. Places of the sort you want are +not quite so common as blackberries," said Ashley. + +This was reasonable enough, and Kate replied, "I dare say you are +right, only it would have been more like Mrs. Bateson to send me just a +line, to tell me as much. + +"I am beginning to be afraid that I shall not be fit for a place of any +sort, if I get no stronger. I can hardly keep on, and when there is +company beside, what I shall do, I know not." + +Two days later, and Kate, all unconscious of what was going on around +her, was lying in a sick ward in the Infirmary. + +She had broken down hopelessly, and, as Mrs. Maybrick said, "At the +most inconvenient time possible. On the very day before visitors were +expected to be a servant short, and with only a few hours in which to +look for another, was enough to try the patience of an angel. + +"What to do with the girl I cannot tell, for the doctor forbids a +railway journey, and her friends live—I really forget where—if I had +any one to send with her." + +This difficulty was solved by Mr. Maybrick, who, more pitiful than his +wife, arranged for Kate's admission to the Infirmary, and made himself +responsible for the expenses incurred on her behalf. + +Thus it happened, that when Mrs. Bateson's letter came, the girl was +not in a condition to receive it. + +Fortunately, Ashley was on the look out for the precious missive, +feeling always convinced that it would come, or it might have been +carelessly laid aside and never reached Kate's hand at all. + +The nurse would have liked to take it to the Infirmary herself, but +this Mrs. Maybrick would not allow, though there was nothing infectious +in her late housemaid's illness. + +"You must not think of it, nurse," she said. "Who knows what you might +bring home to the children by going to such a place, even if Kate's +illness is not of that character?" + +Ashley could only obey, but she wished to serve the girl, and as she +knew the name and address of the lady who conducted the Bible-class, +she ventured to call on her, and told her story. + +"The grey-haired lady," as Kate called her, Mrs. Ashton, was ready both +to listen and to help. + +She had, from the first, felt greatly interested in her country +scholar, and thus it happened that, when Kate became aware of what was +passing around her, the first familiar face she saw by her bed was Mrs. +Ashton's. She gave a little cry of gladness, but had to be contented to +be still and listen, instead of trying to talk. Only between her thin +fingers was placed a letter, addressed in the well-known writing of +Mrs. Bateson. + +That letter was better than medicine to the invalid. It was full of +kind words and promises of help. Nay, there was even the assurance of +a suitable place for Kate, so soon as she could be honourably free to +leave Mrs. Maybrick's service. + +At this, the tears came into the girl's eyes. Alas! She was not fit to +undertake the lightest duties, and when would she be? Perhaps never +again. + +She was not allowed to dwell on the dark side. A sweet-faced nurse +whispered hopeful words, which were but an echo of the doctor's. +Only time, patience, and good nursing were wanted. Then a stay at a +convalescent home in the country, and she would be as well as she had +ever been in her life. + +It was such a comfort to hear this, and to know, beside, that the delay +in answering her letter was owing to Mrs. Bateson's absence. She, her +husband, and eldest children had been travelling on the Continent, and +moving about from place to place, so that they did not receive letters +regularly. + +Mrs. Ashton undertook to write, on Kate's behalf, both to her former +mistress and her mother. And then the girl, glad and thankful beyond +expression, could only lie quietly, and obey to the best of her power +the injunction to get well as fast as she could. + +Having youth on her side, she made good progress, and her heart was +cheered from time to time by news from Heyington and home. The place +would be kept for her until she was fit for it. + +This news seemed almost too good to be true, but if Mrs. Bateson "said" +it, there could be no room for fear or doubt. + +The day came when Kate was considered well enough to be removed to the +convalescent home, and carefully wrapped and prepared for the journey, +she was conveyed to the railway station. + +"I am going to see you safe to the end," said the pleasant-faced nurse. +And Kate thought this was not the usual way of sending patients, who +went from the Infirmary, a batch at a time, in a sort of omnibus, as +the Home was but a few miles out of Manchester. + +She said something of this to the nurse, who smiled in reply, and told +her that was not the Home they were going to. + +"We go by train. A good friend of yours has settled all for you." And +the nurse busied herself in making Kate comfortable in a first-class +carriage. + +"Are you taking me to mother?" asked Kate, wistfully. + +"Not to your own home. It would not do for you yet. If you could get a +sleep now, it would help you over the journey nicely." + +And Kate, weak and easily wearied, did go to sleep, and only awoke when +the train stopped amid scenes familiar to her eyes. + +Surely this was Heyington! And that must be the carriage from the Hall +waiting for somebody, just outside the gate. + +Nearer still, on the platform, and looking eagerly towards the train +stood—yes, there could be no mistake about it—Kate's mother. There she +was, with a whole world of love in her eyes, waiting to welcome her +child, given back, it seemed, from the very verge of the grave, to her +loving arms. + +Neither Mrs. Evans nor Kate will ever forget the joy of that moment. + +Mrs. Bateson might well be envied for having both the power and the +will to make two people so intensely happy, as were this mother and +daughter. + +Their happiness did not end with the meeting. It hangs about them +still, though years have passed since that bright day. It has grown +with each year, and Kate's store of precious memories increases every +day. + +Well, the girl found out for whom the carriage was sent to meet the +train she arrived by. It was to take her in the easiest way to the +Hall, which was to be first her "convalescent home," then her permanent +one. Kate's successor had not proved efficient, and it was her old +place that was being kept for her until she was able to take it. + +Truly Mrs. Bateson's goodness justified Nurse Ashley's faith. She did +not forgive by halves, but strove both to pardon, restore, and bless. + +Need it be told that Kate learned a lesson during her time of weakness +and suffering that she never afterwards forgot, learned to value +what she had once been indifferent about—the Christian mistress, the +well-ordered home, and the peaceful Sabbaths, which are God's good +gifts for the refreshment of weary bodies and longing souls. + +Mrs. Bateson and her family have ever since had the most self-devoting +service from Kate, and the good mistress of the Hall has never +regretted that, following the example of her Divine Master, she was +enabled to forgive fully and freely. + +Kate has not forgotten Nurse Ashley's kindness to her, and now this +good friend's young daughter is under-housemaid at Heyington. Kate +has the higher place, and strives, by being a true friend to Margaret +Ashley, to repay in some degree the goodwill shown to her by the mother. + +More than one suitor has thought what a good wife Kate Evans would +make, but so far she has not been won. She is very happy, and in no +hurry to leave Mrs. Bateson's service. + +So we, instead, will leave her where we found her, only adding that she +has a mind at ease about her mother and those who are still left in her +cottage home. Blessed with strength to work and work to do, they are +equally happy and useful. + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78930 *** diff --git a/78930-h/78930-h.htm b/78930-h/78930-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f5d2aa --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/78930-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2333 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Taught by Experience | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/image001.jpg" type="image/cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size:12.0pt; + font-family:"Verdana"; +} + +p {text-indent: 2em;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +h2 {font-size: 1.17em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} + +.w100 { + width: auto + } + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +p.t1 {text-indent: 0%; + font-size: 125%; + text-align: center + } + +p.t2 { + text-indent: 0%; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center + } + +p.t3 { + text-indent: 0%; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center + } + +p.t3b { + text-indent: 0%; + font-size: 100%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center + } + +p.t4 { + text-indent: 0%; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center + } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.footnote {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 90%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + + </style> +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78930 ***</div> + + +<p>Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image001" style="max-width: 33.8125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image001.jpg" alt="image001"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image002" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image002.jpg" alt="image002"> +</figure> +<p class="t4"> +<b>"You have had a good home and a kind mistress."</b><br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image003" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image003.jpg" alt="image003"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<h1>TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCE</h1> +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> +BY<br> +</p> + +<p class="t1"> +RUTH LAMB<br> +<br> +</p> +<p class="t3"> +AUTHOR OF<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> +"The Luckiest Lad in Libberton," "Old Cantanker," etc.<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> +THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> +56, PATERNOSTER ROW; 65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD<br> +AND 164, PICCADILLY.<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image004" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image004.jpg" alt="image004"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image005" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image005.jpg" alt="image005"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3b"> +CONTENTS.<br> +</p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image006" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image006.jpg" alt="image006"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>CHAP.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_1">I. LEADING-STRINGS</a></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_2">II. EVIL COMMUNICATIONS</a></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_3">III. MISUNDERSTANDINGS</a></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_4">IV. A RIFT IN THE CLOUD</a></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_5">V. THE FIRST NIGHT IN A NEW HOME</a></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_6">VI. KATE'S SUNDAY OUT</a></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_7">VII. A MISTAKE CONFESSED</a></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_8">VIII. HOPE DEFERRED—FAITH JUSTIFIED</a></p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image007" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image007.jpg" alt="image007"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image008" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image008.jpg" alt="image008"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t2"> +<b>TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCE.</b><br> +</p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image009" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image009.jpg" alt="image009"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_1">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +LEADING-STRINGS.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>"IF we are servants, we are not slaves that I know of. I would not stay +in the best place under the sun if I must be kept in leading-strings +like a baby, and never be allowed out of the mistress's sight. Come +along with me, Kate. I am going to leave, so I have no call to care +what she says."</p> + +<p>"But I am not, and I don't think I want to leave. Mrs. Bateson is very +particular, but she means it for our good. It is not every mistress +that would take the trouble she does, and it is no benefit to her."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it? You may think so; but it is because you know no better, you +little simpleton. Isn't it to the mistress's benefit to have us always +within call? She gets more work out of us than the wages are worth. I +shall be glad to turn my back on this place when Wednesday comes."</p> + +<p>The speakers were the upper and under housemaids in a large country +house. The elder of the two, who held the higher post, was a clever, +capable young woman, but with a strong will, quick temper, and very +decided views about her "rights" and the work belonging to her place. +She had only been three months in it, and had given notice to leave, +because she found the rules of the house too strict to suit her taste, +especially as regarded the keeping of the Sabbath.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson was very particular in this respect. But if Fanny Ellis +had only given the matter reasonable thought, she would have owned that +the children of the household and the servants were bound by the same +rules. Every member of the family who was in health, and not compelled +to remain at home for the performance of domestic duties, was expected +to occupy her seat in the house of God at least once on Sunday. There +was but a single place of worship within walking distance, so that +masters and servants met together under the same roof, and were near +each other.</p> + +<p>Fanny Ellis was one of the first to rebel against this rule, though she +had agreed to it when she took the place of upper housemaid.</p> + +<p>More than once her seat at church had been empty, and she had made +various excuses for her absence. Next, she boldly declared that +servants had little enough time for rest, or a walk in the fresh air, +and that so long as her work was well done and up to hours, she meant +to call her Sundays her own, and spend her "turn out" as she pleased.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson did not wish to part with the girl, but she could not +allow her authority to be set at nought. At first she spoke gently to +Fanny, reminded her that the Sabbath was God's day, but given for the +refreshment of the soul as well as for the rest of the body, and that +we should value the opportunity of going to His house as a blessed +privilege, not an irksome task to be forced upon us by some one else.</p> + +<p>"I give you the same opportunity as my own children have," she added. +"You may be sure I wish to do well for them, and the fact that I am +particular for you also should show that I wish you to do what is for +your own good, not for any benefit to myself."</p> + +<p>Fanny listened, but said nothing in reply, and soon after again broke +the rule.</p> + +<p>"If this should happen a third time, Fanny, I must give you notice to +leave. I cannot keep any servant who sets our rules at defiance."</p> + +<p>"I will give you a month's notice and save you the trouble," returned +the girl, pertly. "The rules don't suit me. They may do in an infant +school, but not for grown-up people in a free country. I'll do my work +well while I stay, and I hope you will give me a character for that. I +don't expect you will be asked to say how often I go to church." And +Fanny, with a toss of the head, and without waiting for an answer, +flounced out of her mistress's presence.</p> + +<p>"Poor girl!" said Mrs. Bateson to herself. "I wish I could make her +understand how truly I desire her good. I do hope she will be contented +with throwing up her own place, without unsettling the others, +especially Kate."</p> + +<p>This was exactly what Fanny would not do. She aired her views on the +subject of tyrannical mistresses and the slavery of service under such, +on every possible occasion. But most of her fellow-servants knew too +well the value of their places to be affected by what she said or to +agree with it.</p> + +<p>Kate Evans was younger, weaker and more easily led. Moreover, she was +a little bit giddy, had a pretty face, and liked to show it elsewhere +than in the servants' pew at church, "where," said Fanny, "if you look +up, the mistress's eye is down on you in a minute."</p> + +<p>Fanny was mistaken. Mrs. Bateson went to the house of God to worship, +not to watch other people. She knew, too, how likely it was that the +young would feel annoyed at the thought of her doing so, and she +carefully avoided it.</p> + +<p>After Fanny had given notice, she only went once to church. "I shall go +for a walk instead," she said. "I will do my work so as nobody can find +fault, but I have cut the leading-strings, and I will take care they +are not tied again."</p> + +<p>On the second Sunday, she urged Kate to accompany her. The weak girl +yielded to persuasion and ridicule combined, but she was not happy. She +dreaded the consequences of her disobedience, and was angry at herself +for having been laughed into doing what conscience told her was wrong.</p> + +<p>Kate could not forget that Mrs. Bateson had taken her from a poor home +and a widowed mother who know not how to get bread for a number of +younger children. She had been very ignorant when she came three years +ago, and her mistress had taught her all she knew, and had been very +patient with her carelessness, mistakes, and forgetfulness. She had +given her better wages than she deserved at first in order to relieve +the poor mother of all anxiety about her daughter's wardrobe. She had +shown her how to spend her money to the best advantage, and allowed her +maid to teach her how to cut out and make her clothes and economise the +materials.</p> + +<p>No one would have known the Kate Evans of to-day to be the same as +the slatternly, ignorant girl who came from a poor home three years +ago. She was worth her wages now, there was no doubt about it. But who +had made her so? To whom did she owe it that she was well up with her +duties, and that any mistress might be attracted by her smart, tidy +appearance, if she were in want of a place?</p> + +<p>Kate's conscience answered, "To Mrs. Bateson."</p> + +<p>She could not forget that this lady had been alike her friend and her +mistress, and that to treat her with disrespect and disobedience would +be the grossest ingratitude. Yet she allowed herself to be laughed and +taunted into both.</p> + +<p>The first time this occurred, Mrs. Bateson spoke to Kate with more of +sorrow than anger. She knew that the girl was young and weak, and would +be as easily led in the wrong direction as she had hitherto been in the +right. In Fanny's hands, she would be pliant as wax.</p> + +<p>So the lady spoke kindly, told Kate all that she felt about her +intercourse with the other servant, and advised her not to be induced +to do wrong by a companion who could not have the same interest in her +welfare as her own good mother had.</p> + +<p>"You know, Kate," she said, "how anxious your mother is that you should +be kept from wrong company, and that you should become a true child of +God. I have hoped much for you, and rejoiced in your improvement, and +I do not wish to be hard with you. I forgive this one act of direct +disobedience, because you have been misled. But, remember, I must not +allow you to repeat it without feeling the consequences, and if you +again break the rules of the household, I must give you notice to +leave."</p> + +<p>Kate cried, promised that she would not offend again, and felt all the +more determined to keep her word, because Mrs. Bateson had not reminded +her of benefits conferred in the past. It was all for her own sake, and +for her mother's, and Kate's conscience confirmed every word that her +mistress had said.</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image010" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image010.jpg" alt="image010"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_2">CHAPTER II.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +EVIL COMMUNICATIONS.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>KATE fully intended to keep her promise, and would have done so if +only Fanny had been out of the way. She really felt sorry that she had +grieved Mrs. Bateson, whose great kindness could not be put out of her +mind, and she tried, by extra diligence and attention to her duties, to +make what amends she could for her disrespect and disobedience.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson did look specially for Kate in the servants' pew on the +next Sunday, and saw the girl in her place and seemingly joining with +heart and voice in worship. She was very glad of this. Though a lady +of high position and large means, she was a true mother. The thought +of the temptations that beset the young made her watch the daughters +of poorer mothers with genuine interest, and she rejoiced in their +well-doing as a parent and a Christian.</p> + +<p>Coming out of church, she gave Kate a pleasant smile and a word of +encouragement, which, for the moment, made the girl more sorry for her +past fault and still more anxious to make amends. But her battle was +not over nor her victory so easily won.</p> + +<p>All through the following week she had to bear many a jeer and taunt +from Fanny Ellis, who was determined, as she said within herself, to +"pay Mrs. Bateson out," by unsettling her younger housemaid.</p> + +<p>"Poor little girl! So you have eaten humble pie, and begged Missus's +pardon, and promised never to be naughty any more. You like to be in +leading-strings and to do just as you are bid, whether you are in the +house or out of it."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't right of me to go with you instead of to church," said Kate, +stoutly. "I don't see that there is any disgrace in owning one has done +wrong, if one's conscience tells that we have."</p> + +<p>"Oh dear no! But I suppose it is quite right of Mrs. Bateson to expect +that we, grown-up women, should be ordered about like little children. +I'm twenty-five."</p> + +<p>"I am not, though," replied Kate.</p> + +<p>"You are twenty and a grown-up woman, and you are worth three pounds a +year more wages than she gives you."</p> + +<p>"I don't know that. I never tried for another place, and I have no +desire to change. Mrs. Bateson has been very kind to me," replied Kate.</p> + +<p>"And to herself, too. She gets three-ha'p'orth of work for every penny +she pays you, I know."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed you are wrong. My wages may not be high, but Mrs. Bateson +gave me far more than I earned when I first came," said the girl, +earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Then you need thank her for nothing, since she is taking it back again +out of what you ought to have now," retorted Fanny.</p> + +<p>The girl was so ready with her answers, so quick-witted and bold in her +attacks, that she often silenced Kate's tongue, though she could not +convince her that what she said was right. Kate often heartily wished +herself out of Fanny's way, but that could not be, though she counted +the days that must pass before she would leave, and rejoiced that the +month was nearly at an end.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson had no idea of what was going on. Fanny did her work +better than ever, with a double motive. She was determined her mistress +should have no excuse for complaint on that score, and that she should +give her a first-class character for efficiency—all that most inquirers +would care about.</p> + +<p>"And I mean to let her see that I am better worth keeping than some of +her demure sort, though I won't be driven to spend my Sundays as my +mistress chooses for the best place going."</p> + +<p>Kate could not and would not tell what she had to put up with, so as +the two were much thrown together during working hours, she had to +listen in spite of herself.</p> + +<p>By degrees Fanny's words made an impression. Kate insisted that, if you +undertook a place on certain conditions, these should be observed.</p> + +<p>"You knew the rules when you came, and ought to abide by them."</p> + +<p>"Well, I am going because they are too hard and strict for me. You will +say the same before long."</p> + +<p>Fanny was right. The month was not out, yet Kate had begun to think +that it was a shame to bind grown-up people by such rules, and in her +heart to rebel against them and to wish them changed.</p> + +<p>It was on the last Sunday, and Fanny was to leave on the following +Wednesday morning. She was in high spirits, having secured a promising +situation, and fully determined to show off her independence to the end.</p> + +<p>Some little thing had happened between Kate and the cook, an old and +valued servant, who had been a true friend to the young one. She +guessed that Fanny meant mischief, and warned the younger girl against +being carried away by bad advice.</p> + +<p>"You have had a good home and a kind mistress, don't throw them away, +Kate," she said. "Remember what you were when you came here first, +with hardly a shoe to your foot, or a gown to your back, and don't be +ungrateful."</p> + +<p>"I had good shoes and gowns too," retorted Kate, angrily.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, you had, but the mistress bought for you every decent bit +of clothing you had, I know that," replied cook.</p> + +<p>"I paid her back, out of my wages, the money laid down to buy the +clothes with, so you need not fling that in my face," said Kate, +angrily. She did not like those old days to be talked about, now that +she was so much better off.</p> + +<p>Cook had tried to speak a word in season, and she was full of good +will for Kate. But, unfortunately, she said the wrong words, and did +harm where she meant to do good. She had not her mistress's wisdom or +forbearance in dealing with the young, and as Kate said, "She flung my +poverty in my face, and I didn't like it."</p> + +<p>"I should wonder if you did," replied Fanny; "if I were you, I would +not stop in a place where either mistress or servant could do it by me."</p> + +<p>Cook had roused Kate's temper instead of awakening afresh her gratitude +by reminding her of past favours. Fanny resolved that the fire thus +kindled should not go out for want of stirring, and said further +irritating things with such success that Kate went to bed that night in +a thoroughly rebellious and discontented spirit.</p> + +<p>She shed many a bitter tear at the thought of having been taunted with +being too poor to buy her own clothes when she came to the place, and +felt humiliated and disgraced.</p> + +<p>"I should like to get right away from them all, and I do not care about +staying in a place where I may be talked to again as cook spoke last +night," she said to herself.</p> + +<p>Morning—Fanny's last Sunday morning,—found her in no better spirit, and +she was more than ready to yield when tempted to disobey once again, +though she made a show of refusing at first, and said, "Mrs. Bateson is +particular, but it is for our good. It is no benefit to her."</p> + +<p>She ended by falling in with Fanny's proposal, and spent the Sunday +morning without going near church.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson said nothing to the girl until Monday, but Kate saw a +sorrowful expression on her mistress's kind face which spoke to her +heart more loudly than words would have done.</p> + +<p>She had felt very defiant and independent when she came in from her +walk with Fanny, but as the quiet hours passed, she realised the +position in which she had placed herself. She would have a night to +sleep on it before anything could be said, but there was little rest +for Kate. She heard the clock strike hour after hour, as she lay awake +thinking of her mistress's kindness, of the home she had enjoyed, the +regular habits, the plentiful food, the quiet Sabbaths.</p> + +<p>She seemed compelled to think of them again and again, and she knew +that her present health and strength were largely owing to all these +advantages.</p> + +<p>She remembered too how, during a rather severe illness she had in her +second year of service, she had been nursed and cared for, attended +by the family doctor at her master's cost, and nourished with all the +little dainties that could tempt her appetite when she was able to take +food again. She knew that in most cases a servant who breaks down at +her post is sent away, perhaps to a poor home or lodgings, to recover +as best she may.</p> + +<p>Kate had cried out of vexation and wounded pride the night before. She +wept yet more bitterly at the thought of her own ingratitude, and of +the pain which the knowledge of it would cause her mother.</p> + +<p>"What a poor-spirited thing you are!" said Fanny, as she saw Kate's red +eyelids and pale face. "You have been fretting half the night, and what +for?"</p> + +<p>"I shall lose my place, and I know I deserve to be sent away. I +promised, and I have broken my word. It is not pleasant to think of +that, to say nothing of my mistress. She has been good to me and my +mother."</p> + +<p>"Well, you are a goose!" replied Fanny, contemptuously. "And you are +like a weathercock, going round from one side to the other. I never +know where to have you. If you do lose your place, there are plenty of +better ones to be had for looking after, and to have stayed here three +years is character enough for anybody. Give notice yourself as I did, +and then Mrs. Bateson will see how much you care for her place. You +need not tell your mother directly. Let her know when you have another +situation to go to."</p> + +<p>But Kate felt that she had already followed Fanny's advice once too +often. No fear of her going the length proposed. She was not kept +long in suspense; directly after breakfast she was summoned to her +mistress's room.</p> + +<p>"You will know why I have sent for you, Kate. I have never broken my +word when I have promised you anything, and I cannot break it now. I +have no need to explain why I am parting with you. You know, without +any word from me, that you will have to leave on this day month. +And you must feel that no mistress could possibly keep a girl who +repeatedly set her orders at defiance, and broke the rules of the +household," said Mrs. Bateson.</p> + +<p>Kate had indeed known what was coming, and she bitterly regretted the +conduct which had brought it upon her. She dared not lift an appealing +look to the face of her kind mistress, and felt unable to utter a word +in her defence, so stood there with downcast eyes, in which tears were +already rising.</p> + +<p>What could she say? Only confess her ingratitude and folly, and plead +that she had listened to evil counsel, and acted contrary to her better +judgment.</p> + +<p>She would gladly have said this if she had felt the least hope that she +would be forgiven. But she did not.</p> + +<p>And, after waiting for a few moments in silence, Mrs. Bateson said, +"You can leave the room, Kate; I have nothing further to say to you at +present."</p> + +<p>The girl turned away to hide the tears which were now streaming down +her cheeks, and left her mistress's presence without a word. If she +had but looked up, and noted the expression of pity and sorrow in Mrs. +Bateson's kind face, she would surely have tried to tell what was in +her heart. But she did not; and as she walked slowly away, she left the +lady with the impression that the girl, for whom she had done so much, +was ungrateful as well as wilfully disobedient.</p> + +<p>Fanny was not far off. Through that day and the next she strove, after +her fashion, to cheer Kate, by repeating all her old arguments against +being kept in leading-strings and treated like babies. But her words +produced no sense of comfort, for whilst she could not help hearing +them, Kate was looking back on the past three years of comfort, plenty, +and peace in that fair home, and of the kindness shown her under its +roof, and saying to herself, "But for listening to you, I might be +looking forward to more such happy years. As it is, I must soon turn my +back on all here, and they will feel that I have behaved so badly."</p> + +<p>Fanny departed in high spirits on the Wednesday morning, and despite +the evil effects of her companionship, Kate felt more unhappy still +when she was gone. She had offended her old friend the cook, by +resenting her well-meant advice, so very few words now passed between +them.</p> + +<p>"Kate may take her own way for me," said cook. "She's only a bit of +a girl of twenty, and I am twice her age, and might be her mother. +And I've tried to act like one to her, and helped her in many a way, +because I thought she was willing to be taught and wanted to do right. +But now she has set herself up to go straight against the mistress's +orders and rules, and turned huffy with me, because I just put her in +mind what had been done for her and advised her for her good; she may +take her own way for me. I shall not interfere again, come what may. +I'll be civil, and speak when I have house matters to speak about, but +that shall be all. If Kate wants to be friends, it is for her to say +so, not me. I am not going to eat humble pie, for I have only tried to +do her good—the ungrateful thing!"</p> + +<p>Fanny's last words were, "Cheer up, Kate, and don't go about looking +miserable. I will soon get you a better place, and better wages too, +never fear."</p> + +<p>Even this promise did not take the weight from Kate's mind. Happily for +the girl, conscience was not silenced. Its voice made itself heard, +and rendered her very unhappy. She would have gladly done anything in +her power to show her regret and her honest desire to hear words of +forgiveness from Mrs. Bateson, even though she could not hope that the +notice would be withdrawn.</p> + +<p>She would have liked to speak to cook, but received no encouragement +from that quarter. The older servant adhered to her resolution, said +"Yes" or "No" when asked a question, put what she was obliged to say +into the fewest words possible, and then closed her lips and "kept +herself to herself."</p> + +<p>So, seeing that she was shunned, and that even her fellow-servants +condemned her conduct towards her mistress, Kate spent as little time +in their company as possible, but stole away to her own room, and +regretted in solitude the fault she would have been only too thankful +to acknowledge, if by so doing she could have regained her mistress's +favour.</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image011" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image011.jpg" alt="image011"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_3">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +MISUNDERSTANDINGS.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>MRS. BATESON at first thought of sending word to Kate's mother that +the girl would leave her place at the month's end. But after a little +consideration, she decided to wait and see how she conducted herself +in the meanwhile, as well as to give her an opportunity of asking +forgiveness.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson naturally felt that the girl ought to do this, and would +do it if she were sensible of her fault and anxious to retain her place.</p> + +<p>She attributed what had passed to Fanny's evil influence, and regretted +that Kate had been brought within it. Now Fanny was gone, and if Kate +were really sorry, she had nothing to prevent her from saying so.</p> + +<p>Yes, there was something which neither Mrs. Bateson nor cook quite +understood. The same disposition which made Kate susceptible to any +outside influence, also rendered her timid and fearful of receiving a +rebuff.</p> + +<p>She was easily led and easily frightened. The one thought in her mind +was, "Everybody is against me; I have done wrong, I know, but they need +not be so hard. Cook will not speak if she can help it, the rest are +sure to do the same as she does, and Fanny, that persuaded me and got +me into trouble, has gone and left me in it. If only my mistress would +give me one kind look or word, I could speak. But I am so frightened."</p> + +<p>It is a great pity that people are so often brave enough to take a +wrong step, and so frightened of turning back. And it is a great pity, +too, that the elders do not always remember, that words which would +come easily from their tongues are hard to be uttered by the young, +not on account of unwillingness, but of dread as to how they will be +received and answered.</p> + +<p>Kate Evans went about her work with increased diligence, leaving +nothing undone, and doing everything as well as possible. She hoped +this would speak to her mistress in one way, and show her that she was +sorry and wished her to know it. But whenever Mrs. Bateson was near, +the girl seemed to shrink into herself, and she dared not express the +feelings with which her heart was full.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson noted the careful work, but she also noticed Kate's +silence and averted looks, and mistook both. She said to herself, "Kate +is determined that she will deserve a good character for the way in +which her work is done, but she is too proud to ask forgiveness, if +indeed she wishes to stay, which I begin to doubt. She seems so sullen, +and evidently tries to avoid me as much as possible."</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Bateson spoke to cook on the subject. "Do you think Kate is +sorry that she will have to leave?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, ma'am, I cannot tell," was the reply. "When I spoke to her +before that pert Fanny went away, and put her in mind of what you had +done for her, and how you took her with scarce a gown to her back, and +had her clothed and taught and made into what she is, she flew up at +me like anything. That's just the way with these young girls. You take +them out of a poor place where they have had bare bread, and you bring +them into a home like a palace by comparison, and they neither know how +to value their blessings nor to be thankful for them."</p> + +<p>"I never used to think Kate an ungrateful girl," said Mrs. Bateson. +"I have wondered whether she was troubled and afraid to speak to me, +or stubborn and resolved not to own that she has done wrong. I feel +grieved about the girl, both for her own sake, and her mother's."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, ma'am," said cook, "and so do I, and disappointed too, for +being so much older I have tried to help and advise her. But when she +turned on me so, I made up my mind that unless she came to me again of +her own accord, she should take her own way.</p> + +<p>"I am civil to Kate, I never give her a cross word, but I only speak +about work and house matters. I think she is just 'stunt,' and having +turned in the wrong way, has made up her mind to go on. She takes +herself off to her room when she can, and is close and quiet to all +alike."</p> + +<p>"She is doing her work better than ever, I think."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, and thanks to you, she knows how it should be done, and +Fanny has told her that a three years' character from this place will +get her a pick of good situations without people troubling about how +she spends her Sundays out."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson was very sorry to find her own impressions as to Kate's +feelings confirmed by her old and faithful servant.</p> + +<p>She came to the conclusion that Kate was sullen and too proud to own +her fault, whilst the girl was longing for an opportunity to speak, but +dreading that all she might say would avail nothing.</p> + +<p>This state of things continued for a fortnight, when Kate received a +second letter from Fanny Ellis. She had written as soon as possible +after leaving to tell Kate that she was looking out for her, and that +there were plenty of places to be had, only she wanted to get her "a +real good one," and near to herself.</p> + +<p>Kate was doubtful by this time whether Fanny's idea of a real good +place and her own would agree, and whether such a neighbour would +benefit her or otherwise.</p> + +<p>By degrees, as the girl saw that no notice was taken of her painstaking +work, no kind look or word of encouragement reached her, she began +first to despair, then to feel indignant. She shed bitter tears in the +quiet of her own little room as she said to herself, "Mrs. Bateson +might give me another chance. She must know that I am sorry, for I do +try my very best to please her. I think if I were a lady and mistress +of a great house, I would not be so hard on a young girl. It is not +likely she will ask me to stay, but she need not look so hard and cold +as to frighten me out of trying to speak. She just passes me as if she +never saw me now."</p> + +<p>Then angry thoughts came, and Kate began to say to herself, "I don't +care for stopping now. I should only be miserable here with cook, too, +that used to be so kind. Everybody has turned against me, and all for +one little thing. It is too bad. I know mother will be vexed at me +leaving; but she'll have to get pleased again. Mrs. Bateson cannot have +written to her yet, and I shall not till I am sure of a place."</p> + +<p>The certainty came just when Kate had got to this stage.</p> + +<p>Fanny wrote:</p> + +<p class="letter"> +<br> + "I have got you a first-rate place, and three pounds a year more wages +than you have now. All is as good as settled, for the lady, Mrs. +Maybrick, is writing for your character to-day. Mrs. Bateson cannot +help speaking well of your work.<br> +<br> + "Your mistress that is to be said that it was only a matter of form +writing for a character at all. Three years' service in such a place as +you are at was good enough for any one. I told you it would be, Kate, +and now you may snap your fingers at the crabby old cook, and make +yourself comfortable, for you will be quite independent of her, and +Mrs. Bateson too.<br> +<br> + "You will have every third Sunday out, and all to yourself. Nobody will +ask you where you go, or preach at you if you take a walk instead of +sitting in a stuffy pew with a mistress's eye on you all the while. +I'll try and get out on the same day whenever I can, and we shall not +be far off one another at any time.<br> +<br> + "There's just one thing you may not quite like. You will have to come +straight to Mrs. Maybrick's the day you leave your place. Her housemaid +goes four days earlier, and she is expecting company and cannot be for +longer without, but she will wait so long for you.<br> +<br> + "Now I hope you think I have done well for you, so with love, and +reckoning on seeing you soon, your affectionate friend,—<br> +<br> +<span style="margin-left: 23.5em;">"FANNY ELLIS."</span><br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>This letter confirmed Kate's indignant and independent feelings. She +wrote at once, expressing her willingness to go straight to Mrs. +Maybrick's.</p> + +<p>She was glad to be spared seeing her mother at present—glad, too, that +now Mrs. Bateson would have to speak to her when she was applied to for +a character, and that she should soon turn her back on all those who +had been so ready to take sides against her.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maybrick's letter of inquiry surprised and pained Kate's mistress. +She did not think the girl would have gone to this length and acted +independently of her mother, for she felt sure that, had Mrs. Evans +known that her daughter was about to leave, she would at once have +come, or communicated with herself.</p> + +<p>When Kate was summoned to Mrs. Bateson's presence, the change in +her manner was sufficiently apparent, and all the lady's previous +impressions were confirmed.</p> + +<p>The girl no longer met her with downcast eyes, but stood erect, waiting +to be addressed. There was nothing pert or disrespectful, only an air +of independence about her, which could not be mistaken.</p> + +<p>"I do not wish to answer a letter I have just received without first +speaking to you about it, Kate," said Mrs. Bateson. "I suppose you knew +there would be an inquiry as to your character, from a Mrs. Maybrick."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am. I heard this morning that the lady was going to write to +you," replied Kate.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid your mother knows nothing of this. Have you told her that +you are leaving your place, and why I was obliged to give you notice?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am. I did not want to trouble mother if I could help it. She +has plenty to do for the young ones at home, so I thought I would make +sure of another place before she knew that I was leaving here."</p> + +<p>"And do you think it will be no trouble to your mother that you are +acting in such a matter without asking her advice, or treating her +with the confidence a daughter is bound to give that best of earthly +friends, a loving parent?"</p> + +<p>Kate hesitated a little before replying, and for the moment, a slight +trembling of the lip and a flush on her cheek showed that the question +had touched her. But she conquered the softer feelings, and answered +steadily, "I did it for the best, ma'am. I had to get a place, for I +did not want to be hanging on mother."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you may think I have no right to ask you any questions of +this kind as you are leaving my service, Kate, but for your mother's +sake, and for your own, too, I should like to know how you heard of the +situation at Mrs. Maybrick's," said Mrs. Bateson.</p> + +<p>"Fanny Ellis went after it for me. She is living at Manchester now, and +if I get the place, I shall not be very far away from her, so I shall +have one friend to speak to," replied Kate.</p> + +<p>"I was afraid Fanny was answerable for this, as well as for having +induced you to set our household rules at defiance when she was here. +She is not the friend your mother would choose for you, and I, too, +regret that you ever met her.</p> + +<p>"I must answer Mrs. Maybrick's letter at once. It will be a very +easy matter, because she only asks how you do your work; there is no +question about matters of more importance still."</p> + +<p>"That is," thought Kate, "she does not trouble herself whether I +pretend to be very religious or not, or make a fuss about church-going +and keeping Sunday in Mrs. Bateson's fashion. So much the better. I'll +show her I can do my work well; and I don't see that a mistress has +a right to interfere with us servants beyond the doorstep. I've had +enough of that sort of thing."</p> + +<p>Perhaps Mrs. Bateson read something of what was passing through the +girl's mind in the expression on her face, for there was now no sign of +softening or regret visible.</p> + +<p>That allusion to Mrs. Maybrick's inquiries had touched a jarring chord, +and Kate was thinking, "I've begun, and I will go through with it. +I should have been glad enough to give in and ask to be forgiven at +first; but I have had cold shoulder all round, and I do not mean to eat +humble pie to finish with."</p> + +<p>What the girl said aloud was, "I hope you have nothing to find fault +with about my work, ma'am. I 'have' always tried to do that well."</p> + +<p>In her heart, she could not help adding, "I have you to thank for all +the pains and patience, the telling and teaching that have made me into +a capable servant." But she did not say it aloud.</p> + +<p>It was a pity she did not, for the same thought was in her mistress's +mind, and she could not help deeply feeling Kate's indifference and +ingratitude. If only the girl had so far conquered the foolish pride +which made her unwilling to own the obligations she was under as to +utter a word of thanks! Just one short sentence would have been enough +to prove that all the kindness of three past years was not forgotten, +and that, in spite of the fault which had led to her dismissal, she was +not ungrateful.</p> + +<p>Kate had the chance and let it slip, and Mrs. Bateson felt that there +was nothing for it but to let her go.</p> + +<p>"I shall tell Mrs. Maybrick that you know the duties of such a place, +and that you do your work well. She does not ask why you are leaving."</p> + +<p>"I think Fanny told her all about it to save trouble," replied Kate, +who also knew that the lady had laughed on hearing the particulars, and +remarked that she should not be likely to send away a good servant for +such a trifle.</p> + +<p>"I feel it my duty to write to your mother now, Kate. She ought to +know both what has passed here and what you purpose doing," said Mrs. +Bateson.</p> + +<p>"I hope you will tell her, ma'am, that you gave me notice. I did not +want to leave, I am sure."</p> + +<p>"I shall tell your mother exactly what occurred, Kate, and let her know +that on Monday week I shall cease to be in any way responsible for your +movements. I can only hope that this change may be overruled for your +good, and not be the means of bringing fresh anxiety upon your mother."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson did not condescend to answer Kate's remark that she did +not want to leave. Unaccompanied by any word of regret, it seemed +almost impertinent. What could it mean but that the girl wished to +stay, yet on her own terms and provided that she might disobey her +mistress with impunity, and set her rules at defiance whenever she +chose?</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image012" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image012.jpg" alt="image012"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image013" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image013.jpg" alt="image013"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_4">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +A RIFT IN THE CLOUD.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>KATE was not left long in suspense. She soon received a letter from +Mrs. Maybrick to say that she was satisfied with the character given by +her present mistress, and would engage her on the terms named by Fanny +Ellis.</p> + +<p>She would require her to go straight from Mrs. Bateson's to her new +situation, as the servant whose place she was to take would leave three +days earlier, and it would be inconvenient to wait longer than this for +Kate.</p> + +<p>The girl was not sorry, for she could not feel comfortable at the +prospect of meeting her mother. For the first time in her life, the +thought of going home was not a cause of unmixed pleasure. She was +longing to see her mother, and the young brothers and sisters who +always looked forward to a visit from Kate as a something which made +home a little brighter for a while.</p> + +<p>During the year, the girl was accustomed to devote many of her spare +hours to the making of little garments, and turning odds and ends to +account for mother and the children.</p> + +<p>If all had gone well and she had been remaining in her place, she +would have had a fortnight's holiday almost directly. Many a time she +had pictured the young faces' brightening at her coming, and mother's +patient, careworn look giving place to one that was all joy and welcome.</p> + +<p>She would not see them now, or hear the cries of surprise and delight +as she distributed her treasures amongst the eager children. They would +have the things all the same, but not from her hand, and she could not +tell when she would see them, for Mrs. Maybrick would make no definite +promise as to holidays later on in the year.</p> + +<p>The lady had said to Fanny Ellis, "I will not tie myself to any +particular time, or say how long I will give. Kate must come to me at +once, and when quite convenient to the family, she shall have two or +three days. She cannot expect me to begin by giving her any length of +time."</p> + +<p>This seemed reasonable enough, but it cost Kate a pang, because of the +nearness of the holiday season, to which she had looked forward for +almost a year, and it was eight months since she had seen any one from +home. Seventy miles of distance was not worth naming amongst people +with plenty of money. But it meant a great deal in railway fare, and +loss of time besides, to a hard-working mother with six children under +fourteen, and only the eldest earning a trifle. Kate might well sigh +as she thought over all these things, and dread the effect of a letter +from Mrs. Bateson to her mother with the news that had to be told.</p> + +<p>She wished it could have been delayed until she could send a triumphant +message to say how well she was doing in a new place, and that she +would be able to spare more out of her increased wages for mother and +the little ones.</p> + +<p>Day after day passed, and Kate heard nothing from home. She began +to think that Mrs. Bateson had not written after all. Then a letter +came in a far better hand than her mother was able to write. It was +enclosed in one to her mistress and brought sorrowful news. Three of +the children, the youngest, were down with scarlet fever. It was hoped +the elder ones would not take it, for two of them had had it before.</p> + +<p>John's earnings were stopped. He was not allowed to go to his work for +fear of carrying infection. In the village where Mrs. Evans lived, +there was no cottage hospital or place within reach to which fever +cases could be taken. So the poor mother's hands were full, and there +was little doubt that her pocket would be empty or very nearly so.</p> + +<p>Kate could picture the state of things. Her mother was counted the +best laundress in or near Garsfield, and had thankfully said many a +time that she was never short of work. But hers was just the kind of +employment that would stop now, for even if attendance on her sick +children allowed her to carry it on, who would send their linen to an +infected house?</p> + +<p class="letter"> +<br> + "I was just going to send word that you must not come home for your +holidays," wrote Mrs. Evans by a friend's hand. "Then a letter came +from your mistress to say that you were going to leave. Oh, Katie, I +'was' sorry to read that news. Mrs. Bateson has been good to you and +far better and kinder to me than ever you knew of. Many's the parcel +of clothes, all clean and neatly mended, that I have had from her, and +such kind letters cheering me up with nice texts, telling me to trust +in God's goodness, and helping me to do it by showing me that He did +not forget our need, but put it into that dear lady's heart to supply +it.<br> +<br> + "Only the last time she wrote, she put such nice words in her letter +about you that I cried for joy as I read them. This was what she wrote, +'Kate is a good girl; very quiet and painstaking about her work. She +does it well, and is daily improving in every way. The sight of her as +she now is repays me for all the teaching and trouble bestowed upon +her. A good servant is a blessing in a family, and a good daughter +a treasure to a mother. I believe Kate will be a comfort to her +employers, and a true help to you and to the children as they grow up.'<br> +<br> + "And to think you are leaving such a home, and a mistress that has +done far more for you than ever I could, and for what? Just a bit of +wilfulness and disobedience, and to show how independent you could be +and set your mistress at defiance.<br> +<br> + "Oh, Katie, you will be sorry for what you have done when you come to +see the difference between a home at Heyington Hall, and the place you +have chosen to take at Manchester, without even asking your mother's +advice. I have trouble enough now, for I believe Tom is beginning with +the fever too, but the thought of you makes me more anxious than all +the rest. May God preserve you from harm!<br> +<br> +<span style="margin-left: 13em;">"Your loving mother, SARAH EVANS."</span><br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Kate's tears fell fast as she read this letter, and she made two +resolutions, and kept them. The first was that she would send off +to her mother every penny that she could spare, reserving only the +month's wages she would receive when she left Heyington for travelling +expenses, and her own immediate needs.</p> + +<p>The second, that she would not leave her place without telling her +mistress that she was sorry for her disobedience and asking her to +forgive it.</p> + +<p>"And I will go just now," she exclaimed to herself, as she stood in her +own room with her mother's letter in her hand. "May be if I put off, I +shall get frightened again."</p> + +<p>Kate was right in this. It is dangerous put off the fulfilment of a +good resolution. If conscience shows us that a thing ought to be done, +better do it at once, for there is no time like the present.</p> + +<p>Kate went to Mrs. Bateson's morning-room and tapped at the door, then +entered in compliance with her mistress's call. Her eyes were full of +tears, her heart of true sorrow for her ingratitude and disobedience.</p> + +<p>She began, "I wanted to tell you, ma'am, that I am so sorry for—" and +then the faltering tongue and quivering lips failed her, and she broke +down and sobbed bitterly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson thought that Kate wanted to tell about the state of things +at home, and despite the reason she had to be displeased with the girl, +she sympathised with her present distress.</p> + +<p>"Do not try to repeat the sad news, Kate," she said, kindly. "I know +all about it, for your note came in one addressed to me. I am truly +grieved for your poor mother and sorry for you too."</p> + +<p>"I was not going to speak about that," sobbed out Kate. "Mother said +she had told you, ma'am. I only wanted to—to tell you that I see I have +done wrong, and I am ashamed and sorry for having displeased you. You +have been a deal too good to me and so kind to poor mother. But please +forgive me before I go away, for I am sorry—indeed I am."</p> + +<p>Kate hid her face in her apron and sobbed like a very child, and she +stood awaiting her mistress's answer.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson believed that the girl was in earnest. She had always been +truthful and straightforward, and she could not doubt that she was +equally so in her acknowledgment of wrong-doing.</p> + +<p>"I do forgive you, Kate," she said, "and I am truly glad that you have +been enabled to see that you were wrong. Of course, we must part now; +but if you had come to me sooner, as you have come to-day, and asked to +remain, I should have kept you, because I thought you had been misled."</p> + +<p>"I wanted to come," said Kate, "but I was afraid. I tried to do my work +'so' well, and I hoped you would notice and maybe say a word or just +look as if you were pleased. But you mostly looked the other way, and +I thought it would be no use, for I had twice done what was against +rules, and I felt sure you would keep your word, and I should have to +go. You always do keep your word, ma'am," said Kate, simply. "And then +cook scolded me and told me how you had taken me without clothes to my +back and given me wages when I wasn't worth my salt. That you'd clothed +me and taught me and made me what I am, and now I was turning round and +showing how impudent and ungrateful I could be.</p> + +<p>"It was all true—I know that—only cook needn't have flung it at me in +that way. Then she never spoke to me if she could help it, and the +others seemed to take sides against me. So I felt that it would be +of no use for me to do anything; I should only be miserable whilst I +stayed, and the sooner I was gone the better, for I could never bear +either to be 'set at,' as cook did, or to be without a friend to speak +to. And cook used to be so good to me," added Kate, with a fresh flood +of tears.</p> + +<p>"She meant to be kind then, Kate, only I am afraid she did not set +about it quite in the right way. Many people think that if what they +say is true, it does not matter how truth is spoken. They forget that +Jesus bade us speak it in love.</p> + +<p>"Well, now, I am glad you have owned that you were wrong, and sorry you +did not speak sooner. I am afraid I mistook your timidity for pride, +and thought you were determined not to bend. I did feel, like cook, +that you were proud and ungrateful. I am truly glad you have opened +your heart to me, and shown that in this I was mistaken."</p> + +<p>Kate smiled through her tears. She was very much of a child still, +impulsive and easily led, though she had been boasting of her womanhood +and right to judge for herself so short a time ago. Now she poured out +her eager thanks for past kindnesses, present forgiveness, and all the +goodness shown to her mother. If she could have read her mistress's +thoughts, she would have found she was regretting that she could not +keep the penitent girl, and care for her as she had done in the past.</p> + +<p>"You know, Kate, that you must keep your engagement, and go to Mrs. +Maybrick," she said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am; it would not be right to do anything else."</p> + +<p>"You will find life in a large city different from your peaceful home +at Heyington; but remember God will be no farther from you, and you +will more than ever need His Holy Spirit's aid to show you what you +ought to do. Pray for it, Kate. Ask God to forgive all past sins and +failures for the sake of that dear Saviour who died to buy pardon for +us poor helpless sinners, who shed His blood that it might wash us from +every stain of guilt, and pay the debt we could never pay by any work +of ours.</p> + +<p>"We will ask His pardon and blessing now," added Mrs. Bateson.</p> + +<p>And kneeling side by side, mistress and maid joined in prayer, the one +uttering the petitions, the other uniting heart and soul therein.</p> + +<p>Kate had not felt so happy for a long time as she did when she left +her mistress's room, for she carried with her a blessed sense of +forgiveness, an assurance that Mrs. Bateson would still act as a friend +and helper to her poor mother, and that should a season of difficulty +come to herself, she might write and ask for advice which would not be +withheld.</p> + +<p>Cheered by her success, Kate said a few words to her old friend the +cook, which cleared away the cloud from between them. Cook was ready to +meet the girl more than half way, having probably been enlightened by +her mistress as to her real feelings.</p> + +<p>"I know I am hasty," she said, "and may be I spoke a bit sharper than +I need have done. But I meant to be kind, and now I am real sorry you +are going. However, we shall hear how you get on, and if you are not +comfortable, there's no saying what may happen. The mistress is always +better than her word, even though that is good enough."</p> + +<p>Kate knew this. All the past time at Heyington told her that Mrs. +Bateson had done more for her than she at first promised, and how much +for her mother beside.</p> + +<p>"I shall never have such another mistress," she said to herself, "and +if I wanted to come back, there is sure to be no opening for me. All +the servants stay on here. Except Fanny Ellis, they have known when +they were well off."</p> + +<p>The last days seemed to go faster than any, and the last hour of all +came when Kate's good-byes had to be said. Hers were hindered by tears, +and she felt as if it had gone dark all at once as she lost sight of +the kind faces and waving handkerchiefs of her old companions, and a +turn of the road shut out her view of Heyington Hall.</p> + +<p>But she was resolved to do her best in her new place, and she had heard +again from her mother, to whom also Mrs. Bateson had written, oh, so +kindly, and she had left in peace and goodwill with everybody—that was +something. She must look onward and upward, seeking God's help, and not +make herself unfit for work by grieving over what was past mending.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image014" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image014.jpg" alt="image014"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image015" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image015.jpg" alt="image015"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_5">CHAPTER V.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +THE FIRST NIGHT IN A NEW HOME.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>MRS. BATESON had arranged that Kate should reach her new place by +daylight, as she was little used to travelling. The double journey from +Heyington to her village home and back, once in the year, was the limit +of her experience.</p> + +<p>She had sent word to Fanny Ellis that she would reach Victoria Station +at four o'clock, and half hoped that she might see her familiar face +greeting her with a look of welcome. But no; all faces were alike +strange, and Kate found herself bewildered and lonely as she stepped +into the midst of a hurrying crowd.</p> + +<p>She had rather a long drive, and the cab fare seemed a great deal for +her to pay, especially now that her mother's need made every penny +doubly precious.</p> + +<p>She had cherished many dreams of city life, and thought it would be +nice to be where there was so much to be seen, and people were not +always looking at the same few faces. At Heyington, everybody knew +everybody else, and one day passed very much like another, and in the +same round of duties.</p> + +<p>Fanny Ellis used to say that she would as soon be buried alive as stay +there. It might do for mistresses who could go away for weeks or months +at a time and whenever they liked, but not for servants who had a bit +of life in them. Yet until brought into contact with Fanny, Kate had +been more than contented, and thanked God for having given her a good +home and a kind friend in her mistress.</p> + +<p>During her drive to her new place of service, Kate was not very +pleasantly impressed by what she saw.</p> + +<p>The buildings were everywhere blackened with smoke, the very sky seemed +to be grey instead of blue, though the day was hot and the sun was +shining brightly.</p> + +<p>When she got out of the cab, she noticed that the very leaves, instead +of being a vivid green like those at Heyington, were coated over +with black, and yet she was by no means near the heart of the city. +Evidently her new home was in a good neighbourhood, for the houses were +mostly detached and with more or less ground about them.</p> + +<p>"Any way," thought Kate, "I shall be away from the dreadful noise +of the streets. It bewildered me and made me wish myself back at +Heyington."</p> + +<p>She was met at the door by another servant, who said, "I suppose you +are the new housemaid-waitress. I'm glad you are come in good time, for +being short of one pair of hands we are rather at sixes and sevens. +I'll help you upstairs with your things. They call you Kate, don't +they?"</p> + +<p>Kate thanked her and said, "Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, my name is Sarah. I'm waitress and housemaid number one, and you +are to be number two, you know. Mrs. Maybrick says you have not been +much used to waiting, but she has arranged for you to help me, same as +the last one did. This is our room."</p> + +<p>It was a long way up, and seemed to Kate very large and desolate +looking, though there were three beds in it—so different in comfort to +the one she had left that morning.</p> + +<p>"I suppose some one else sleeps here beside me?" said Kate, glancing +from side to side, and noticing that there were no drawers in the room, +or anything but the servants' boxes for holding their clothes.</p> + +<p>"I should think so," replied Sarah, with a laugh. "You didn't expect a +room to yourself, I hope. It is what I never had in a town place."</p> + +<p>"I had at Heyington Hall, the only situation I have lived in till now," +replied Kate. "Such a nice little room it was."</p> + +<p>"You were in luck's way, then. I wonder you left. Well, you see, this +is not a nice little room, or a nice big one for that matter, for +there are only scraps of carpet just to step on to, and three chairs, +one apiece for us—cook, and you, and me. We three join at this room. +Nurse is lower down with the children. This great barn of a place and a +box-room run over the whole house, and are top of all.</p> + +<p>"We are well out of Mrs. Maybrick's way up here, that is one comfort, +though it does not look very cheerful in summer, and it is very cold in +winter time."</p> + +<p>"It does seem rather bare," said Kate, who in her passage upstairs had +noted the handsome furniture and profusion of ornaments to be seen in +every direction in the lower part of the house.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image016" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image016.jpg" alt="image016"></figure> +<p class="t4"> +<b>Heyington Hall.</b><br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>"I can guess what you are thinking of," said Sarah, with a knowing +look. "You did not shut your eyes as you came up here, and now you are +saying to yourself, that when they were furnishing, they might have put +a thing or two less down below, and some decent sets of drawers and +such like in our bedroom. You see we have to hang our gowns on nails, +up and down as we can, and cover them from the dust with wrappers made +out of old morning frocks. And Manchester dust 'is' black, I can tell +you."</p> + +<p>"Everything looked dingy to me, coming from a bright country place, +where there are no big chimneys and so little smoke," said Kate.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you'll find it out soon enough," replied Sarah, who was quite +delighted at being able to air her own grievances, and, perhaps, took +some pleasure in heightening them in the eyes of the new comer.</p> + +<p>"You'd better make haste," she added, "and get your things off, so as +to come down and help me. This is your bed. You can pop your gowns +on it till you have time to hang them up. I must go or I shall be +behindhand. We have company to dinner, and I believe the missis has +come in. I'll tell her you are here. Don't be afraid, she will not +trouble to come up so high. She seldom sees this place. I wish she +would just come straight from her own room to this, then she might +notice the difference, and mend matters a bit for us servants."</p> + +<p>Sarah hurried away, and Kate lost no time in following her. She thought +Mrs. Maybrick would want to speak to her, for at Heyington a new comer +was always called into Mrs. Bateson's room, and, after a few words +of kindly welcome, spoken to about her duties and the rules of the +household, so that there could be no mistake.</p> + +<p>She was encouraged to go to her mistress in any time of difficulty, and +cheered by the assurance that she would find not only an employer, but +a friend who would advise and help her in time of need, if she strove +to do right.</p> + +<p>Kate could remember her own arrival at the Hall—a raw, untaught, +frightened girl, with hardly courage to answer when she was asked a +question.</p> + +<p>She could picture again Mrs. Bateson's kind face, and hear her +inquiries after the mother and those she had left behind. And she +remembered, too, how she bade her kneel down, and kneeling beside +her, asked God that her coming might prove a blessing to herself, her +friends at a distance, and all under that roof.</p> + +<p>Kate seemed again to hear her old mistress asking that God's Holy +Spirit, the one unfailing Guide and Teacher, might be given to lead her +in the right way, and strengthen her for the duties before her.</p> + +<p>The memory brought tears to the girl's eyes, and surely it was by the +enlightening power of that Holy Spirit that she was enabled to see more +clearly her ingratitude towards her best earthly friends, her want of +consideration for her mother, her own unthankfulness for the pleasant +places in which, by the good providence of God, her lines had been cast +during three peaceful past years.</p> + +<p>She could not help taking a few moments to kneel in that desolate +looking room, to repeat again the prayer formerly offered on her behalf +by her mistress, to cry for pardon for Jesus' sake, and to thank God +for her safe journey. Then she went down, feeling brighter and happier, +to begin her new duties.</p> + +<p>Sarah noted traces of tears on Kate's cheeks, and being a really +good-natured girl, though much given to gossip, she half regretted that +she had said what might perhaps have frightened the new comer.</p> + +<p>"Don't you get down-hearted," she said to Kate. "There's worse places +than this, you may take my word for it; and I have been here over a +twelvemonth. There's good food and plenty of it, for master is rich, +and Mrs. Maybrick has money of her own, as she'd need to have, seeing +what goes on fads and finery in this house.</p> + +<p>"She doesn't bother us servants much, so long as things are fairly +done. We are kept going—no mistake about that, for there's a deal of +company invited, and no stinginess. Mrs. Maybrick isn't one to take +care of the pence, or pounds either, for that matter.</p> + +<p>"And when you have a holiday, it is your own day. No poking and prying, +as Fanny Ellis says you had in your old place. You were right not to +stand it. I wouldn't be obliged to go here and there, like a child, in +the time that I call my own, for the best mistress that ever stepped."</p> + +<p>The words were kindly meant, and Kate forced a smile and thanked the +speaker. But she was already beginning to realise that the mistress who +did not trouble herself as to the going out and coming in of a young +girl who was far away from her home and her mother, was not likely to +be a friend to whom she might venture to go in any time of trouble, or +who, in sickness, would have much sympathy to bestow.</p> + +<p>Kate did not see Mrs. Maybrick until she was seated at the dinner +table. Her own share of the waiting was small, and chiefly confined +to fetching and carrying, as there were hired helpers. It was very +late before she went to her own room, and she was feeling wearied +out in mind and body by her anxious thoughts, the journey, and the +unaccustomed long hours.</p> + +<p>Before she could lie down, she must put her clothes into something like +order, though she scarcely knew how to begin, and wondered how she +would ever be able to maintain the tidy careful habits which she had +been taught by her late mistress.</p> + +<p>There were no spare nails for her gowns, so she guessed rightly that +when her predecessor left, those used by her had been taken by the +others. In spite of this, there were articles of clothing, both clean +and soiled, lying about in corners, and the very untidiness of the room +made her feel oppressed and miserable.</p> + +<p>The cook and Sarah were asleep before she extinguished the gas. The +latter bade her good-night, and added, "I will help you to straighten +up a bit to-morrow, and we'll drive in some more nails. It's too late +now for anything but sleep, for I'm dead tired."</p> + +<p>Too tired for prayer evidently, for both cook and Sarah dispensed with +that, or at any rate they did not kneel before they got into bed.</p> + +<p>Kate moved as gently as she could, and when the light was out, she +knelt to pray with perhaps a greater sense of want than she had ever +felt in her life before. Absent from all whom she could call her true +friends, she realised for the first time what a blessed thing it is +that Our Father in heaven is always near and willing to hear and answer +even his ungrateful and disobedient children, if they come to Him with +the name of Jesus on their lips, and pleading the merits of His love, +and life, and death for sinners.</p> + +<p>After she lay down, Kate could not sleep, though greatly in need of +rest. The bed had been hastily made up, and the bedding thrown on after +any fashion, for servants are not always careful for each other's +comforts, and the thought, "If she does not like it, let her do it +herself," is not an uncommon one amongst those who serve under the same +roof.</p> + +<p>Kate found her bed hard and lumpy, her bedding uneven and rumpled, +and two-thirds of it on one side reaching the floor, whilst the other +barely covered the mattress. She would amend these things for herself +on the morrow, but in the meanwhile, they and her troubled thoughts +kept her from enjoying the much-needed sleep.</p> + +<p>She felt thankful to Mrs. Bateson as she lay, wakeful yet weary, for +having encouraged her to commit to memory texts of Scripture, and for +having called her into the room when she gathered her children to give +them simple Bible lessons, and allowed her to share them.</p> + +<p>Kate was as ignorant of these precious truths as of the household +duties she would have to perform when she first went to Heyington. She +owed everything that was best, under God, to her late good mistress.</p> + +<p>The texts meant more to her now than they had hitherto done.</p> + +<p class="letter"> +<br> + "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call +upon Him in truth;"<br> +<br> + "Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee,—"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>were amongst those which came to mind for her comfort.</p> + +<p>And she could take the comfort, though feeling her unworthiness, +because she was in earnest in her sorrow for her wilfulness, and in now +as earnestly desiring guidance from above.</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image017" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image017.jpg" alt="image017"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_6">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +KATE'S SUNDAY OUT.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>IT was late on the following morning when Mrs. Maybrick made her +appearance. Sarah had taken her breakfast upstairs, but she said to +Kate afterwards, "It will be your work to carry breakfasts to bedrooms +when they are wanted, but mistress wished me to do it this time, you +being a new comer. She seems rather taken with you, for she said to me, +'The new housemaid is one of the neatest looking girls I have seen for +a long time.'"</p> + +<p>Kate was glad that she had made a good impression, and later on, Mrs. +Maybrick meeting her on the landing said a few careless words to her.</p> + +<p>"Sarah will show you where things are, and tell you how the work has +always been divvied between her and the housemaid. If there is anything +special you want to ask about, such as you might want to come to me +for, you may see nurse. She will tell you as well as I can, or perhaps +better."</p> + +<p>Before Kate had time to say a word, Mrs. Maybrick had swept past her +and was going down to her carriage, which had already been waiting for +nearly an hour on the drive.</p> + +<p>From Sarah, Kate heard all about the establishment.</p> + +<p>There were really six female servants, though only four slept in the +house. Two young girls, the coachman's daughters, filled the places +of kitchen-maid and under-nurse, but went home at nights. The latter +carried up the nursery meals, and was entirely under the orders of the +head-nurse, a good, trustworthy woman, as Sarah acknowledged.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Maybrick does not spend much time with the children. She 'calls +on them' in a morning, and sometimes besides. She buys them lots of +finery, though the eldest is but six and the other three are younger, +and she is very proud of their prettiness, for they are darling little +things.</p> + +<p>"However, she does what is next best to looking after them herself, she +gives them somebody that does, for Mrs. Ashley is a real good woman, +and no children are better cared for. All the washing is done out."</p> + +<p>Kate's looks seemed to say that there must be little for the servants +to do, and Sarah read the expression.</p> + +<p>"I daresay you are thinking that we have easy times, but don't you run +away with that notion. When a house is crammed with gimcracks till you +can hardly turn, there's work enough for one keeping them dusted. Then +there's no order. No two days' dinner at the same time, and no knowing +when breakfast can be cleared away, whether Mrs. Maybrick will have it +upstairs or down, or at what time one will get to bed.</p> + +<p>"The master lunches in the city, but mostly dines at home, and we +seldom miss having some company on a Sunday. That is why we only get +one out in three."</p> + +<p>"But don't the master and mistress go to church, or anywhere on +Sundays?" asked Kate.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes, but quite 'unregular,' like everything else here," said +Sarah.</p> + +<p>"And I suppose you do not have family prayers, or on other Sundays a +chance of going to a place of worship if you want to, just once, I +mean, and nowhere else?" said Kate.</p> + +<p>"Well, you are a queer one!" exclaimed Sarah, wiping her eyes after +a hearty fit of laughter. "Why, I thought it was because you had too +many prayers and too much church-going that you left your last place. +Fanny Ellis said so. And here the first thing you ask about is whether +you can get out once on Sunday just for church, and if we have prayers +in the house? I'm sorry for you, but you'll have to do without family +Bible reading and every week church-going, and when your Sunday out +comes, I fancy you will be glad enough to get as much pleasure out of +it as you can."</p> + +<p>Kate's face flushed as she listened to Sarah's bantering remarks, but +she did not answer sharply as she at first felt tempted to do. She +found courage to say, "I am afraid I was very foolish, and did not know +how to value all the privileges I had and the kindness I received in my +last place.</p> + +<p>"I did not like the notion of being forced to go to a place of worship, +but I never thought of that until Fanny put it into my head, and I +shall miss my old quiet Sundays very much, I am sure. It seems a +dreadful long time to wait three weeks for a chance of going, but I do +not think I shall stay away when I get one."</p> + +<p>This conversation was repeated to Fanny Ellis by Sarah at the first +opportunity, and the two girls laughed over it together.</p> + +<p>"I told you she was just as weak as water," said Fanny. "You may turn +her round your fingers. Before I went to Heyington, she was as meek +as a mouse, and did not know she was being treated like a baby till I +showed her the leading-strings. Then she turned straight round and fell +in with everything I said. She got notice through it, and as I had, in +a way, drawn her into a scrape, I thought I must get her out of it. Now +she is in another place, she will have to shift for herself."</p> + +<p>"She seems likely to shift round again to her old ways. Just what might +be expected from her sort. Give her plenty of a thing, and she does not +want it. Take it from her, and she cries after it. However, her Sunday +out can never be mine, thank goodness! So she will not be in my way."</p> + +<p>"Nor in mine," said Fanny, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Why, I reckoned your Sunday and hers would come together. They ought +to do."</p> + +<p>"But I've changed with cook."</p> + +<p>"What have you done that for?" asked Sarah, seeing a meaning look on +Fanny's face.</p> + +<p>The latter laughed, coloured, and then replied, "Well, if you must know +why, I am managing to have my day different from Kate's, it is because +two's company and three's none."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you sly thing! Tell me all about it this minute," said Sarah.</p> + +<p>And the two became at once so deeply interested in giving and receiving +confidences, that they forgot Kate altogether for the time.</p> + +<p>The three weeks came to an end at last, and Kate was free to make what +use she chose of the day of rest. Never in her life had she so felt the +need of it. The days had gone quickly enough, though the working hours +had been much longer in her new place than they used to be at Heyington.</p> + +<p>Her life was such an unrestful one now. Want of regularity in the +domestic arrangements increased the work, and Kate found that there was +indeed a vast difference between the effect of the pure country air +and the smoke-laden atmosphere of Manchester, both upon clothing and +furniture. She desired to be as neat in the city as she had been in the +village, and to keep everything in a state of spotless cleanliness. But +to do this, she had to change her gowns oftener, and to work harder.</p> + +<p>She had always been used to put in a stitch in time. Now she found it +difficult to secure a few moments for this purpose until bedtime, and +then was often too tired to do it. These three weeks had shown her +that the extra wages would barely meet the increased wear and tear of +clothes, and that she might give up the hope of doing more for her +mother out of her earnings.</p> + +<p>Kate had some sources of comfort, however.</p> + +<p>The children were getting better. There was no gap in the little flock +at home. Friends and neighbours had been good and hopeful, Mrs. Bateson +had increased her aid according to the special need for it, and there +was every prospect that this season of trouble would be tided over +better than could have been expected.</p> + +<p>Kate wept over the letter, written this time in her mother's +unscholarly hand, but doubly precious because it was her very own. And +from her heart, she echoed the words,—</p> + +<p class="letter"> +<br> + "I do believe that Mrs. Bateson is one of the best and dearest ladies +in the world. May God bless her and pay her back, is my daily prayer."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Kate was glad to know too that Mrs. Maybrick was satisfied with the +way in which she did her work. Ashley, the head-nurse, told her this, +and said that her mistress had noticed how orderly she was, and how +thoroughly she performed her duties. She hoped she would be strong +enough for the place.</p> + +<p>"Did Mrs. Maybrick say that you were to tell me she was pleased?" asked +Kate, with a brightening face.</p> + +<p>"No," replied the nurse, "but I thought you would like to know how she +spoke about you. The mistress seldom does praise a girl to her face. I +believe she is afraid it might make her think too much of herself, or +want higher wages, or something."</p> + +<p>Kate's countenance fell a little at this; so different again from Mrs. +Bateson, who was ever on the look out for something to praise, and +whose encouraging words had many a time cheered the girl on to new +efforts in the right direction.</p> + +<p>These occasional visits to the nursery were Kate's greatest comfort, +for Ashley was a motherly woman, and strove to say a word in season to +the lonely girl.</p> + +<p>Then the pretty children reminded her of those at Heyington, whom she +had dearly loved, and of the small flock in her humble home. There +might be little else in common, but there were dear child faces in hall +and cottage, and in Kate's memory pictures, they gathered in one group.</p> + +<p>The girl had never felt so lonely. Sarah troubled herself little about +her, except to joke her about carrying such a long face; Fanny Ellis +was too much occupied by her own private affairs to care whether Kate +was or was not happy. The cook was devoted to her art, elated with +success, and very grumpy if anything went wrong. Dinners and dishes +were the only subjects she cared to talk of, and Kate could only listen +patiently when she chose to speak of these. Out of doors she knew no +one.</p> + +<p>On that first Sunday morning out, she hesitated which way to go, but +she was quite resolved that it should be to some place of worship, and +following a stream of people evidently bent on a similar errand, she +soon found herself once more joining in prayer and praise as a member +of a Christian congregation.</p> + +<p>Oh the comfort, rest, peace it gave her to enjoy again the Sabbath +blessings to which she had been accustomed, though without realising +all she would lose if deprived of them. Words in the lessons, psalms, +and from the preacher's lips seemed meant expressly for her, and she +listened as if she could not bear to lose one.</p> + +<p>To the surprise of her fellow-servants, she went back to the house, had +her dinner with them, and took her share of waiting at lunch time.</p> + +<p>"You need not have come in at all till ten o'clock," said Sarah, +astonished at seeing Kate in the middle of the day.</p> + +<p>"I knew that, but where could I go? I have no relations in Manchester," +replied Kate.</p> + +<p>"There are places enough for walking in and plenty to see for a country +girl like you even on Sundays, though shops are shut. Before your next +day out, you must let me contrive for you.</p> + +<p>"I dare say you will not mind about going out this afternoon, and if +so, may be you will take my—not work—it would only be answering the +door if anybody came," suggested Sarah.</p> + +<p>"I am going out again, Sarah. I need all I can get, seeing I have but +one Sunday in three," returned Kate.</p> + +<p>She did not say what it was she needed, neither did her companion +guess, but replied, "That is right enough, and I don't blame you. I +only wonder at your coming in now."</p> + +<p>If she had followed Kate, she would have seen her at the door of the +same church she attended in the morning, hoping for an afternoon +service. There was none, however, but the person of whom she inquired +told her there was a Bible-class for grown-up people, open to all +comers, and she could attend that if she liked, and he would show her +the room where it was held.</p> + +<p>Kate thanked him and gladly took her place amongst a number of others, +and thus spent a profitable hour. At the close, the teacher, a +grey-haired lady, said a few kind words to the stranger, and asked her +to come again.</p> + +<p>Kate explained that she could only be present every third Sunday.</p> + +<p>"Come when you can then," said the lady. "You will always be welcome." +And she shook hands with the girl and bade her "good-bye for the +present."</p> + +<p>Ah! It was like Heyington days to see that kind face and listen to the +sweet messages telling of God's love in Christ Jesus, of the blood that +cleanseth from all sin, and of the blessed Spirit who shows the sinner +his need, and then bids him find enough to satisfy his longing soul in +the Saviour, the Lamb provided by God Himself.</p> + +<p>Again Kate walked homeward, taking a little longer road, for the sake +of quiet thought out of doors. There was no refuge for her within, for +cook's custom was always to spend the early Sunday afternoons on her +bed, in the large attic shared by the three, and only to rise in time +to prepare the late dinner. No quiet little nest of a room in which +Kate might think, read, or pray.</p> + +<p>"But God is everywhere," she said to herself, with a joyful heart. "And +God's true servants are alike everywhere too, for that dear lady at the +Bible-class spoke and looked with a loving tone and a face that just +put me in mind of my dear good mistress at Heyington."</p> + +<p>Kate sighed at the memory, but rejoiced that she had been guided to +this little haven of rest and of Christian communion and sympathy. +The girl was indeed right. One and the same spirit animates God's +true people wherever they are found, and they are ever mindful of the +commandment, "That he who loveth God, love his brother also."</p> + +<p>Evening saw Kate again amongst the greater gathering of worshippers, +and saying to herself, "At my old place I could only go once to church, +and I sometimes thought that once too often. Now, I am so glad to be +here as frequently as I can, for this Sunday's service will have to +last me for three whole weeks."</p> + +<p>But even Sarah could not help noticing that night what a much brighter +look there was on Kate's face, though she would never have guessed what +brought it there.</p> + +<p>Far from it. She thought to herself, "Quiet as Kate is, she has picked +up some acquaintance or other. She said something about a Bible-class +to nurse, and by all accounts Sunday schools and such like are not so +bad for making friends at.</p> + +<p>"I remember an old mistress of mine that would not let a young servant +go to a Sunday-school when the parson asked her, and said, * 'Such +schools are only meeting places for lads and lasses.' And the parson +took it in real good part and said, 'Don't you think they had better +meet there, as teachers and scholars, than in the streets, low places +of amusement, or the public-house?' He got over the old lady with that +quite nicely.</p> + +<p>"Well, if Kate has picked up a young man, I'll get it out of her. Let +me alone for ferreting out a secret."</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<br> +* Quite true.<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>If Sarah could have seen the face of the grey-haired lady, Kate's new +acquaintance, she would have been surprised.</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image018" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image018.jpg" alt="image018"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_7">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +A MISTAKE CONFESSED.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>MRS. MAYBRICK had felt doubtful whether Kate would be strong enough for +her place, and at the end of two months, the girl herself was beginning +to doubt it too.</p> + +<p>The long hours, the ceaseless round of work, the rare Sabbath rest, the +general unquiet of a house, where dress, costly entertainments, and +outdoor amusements were the only things thought of by the heads of it, +began to tell upon the girl.</p> + +<p>Her face became pale, her step slower and heavier, and though she +continued to do her work in the old painstaking way, she could scarcely +get through it.</p> + +<p>At Heyington, wages were paid monthly and to the day, but at the two +months' end, Kate had received nothing from Mrs. Maybrick. She ventured +to ask Ashley about this, and the nurse told her that she need not be +anxious about her money.</p> + +<p>"No scarcity of that in this house," she said, "only the mistress does +not care to be troubled with monthly payments. You will get your wages +at the quarter or thereabouts, perhaps a week or two after date, or +just as likely that much before, according as it comes into her head. +If you had made a bargain beforehand, I dare say you would have got it +monthly, with a little grumble, for asking for it out of the regular +way."</p> + +<p>"Regular! As if anything were regular in that house," thought Kate, +"when even the quarterly payments depend on the mistress's memory."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think Mrs. Maybrick puts the dates down?" she asked, with a +face of alarm which appealed to Ashley's kind heart.</p> + +<p>"To be sure she does, only she is so busy with her parties and things +that she may not look at her book just when the reminder is wanted, +you know. Are you short of money? Because if you are, I can lend you a +little," said the nurse.</p> + +<p>"I have not a penny," said Kate, tears filling her eyes as she owned +her poverty.</p> + +<p>Then she told how, counting on monthly payments, she had sent all she +could to her mother, and that sundry necessary expenses had exhausted +the few shillings left after paying for her journey to Manchester.</p> + +<p>"And things dirty sooner and wear faster here," she said, "for I cannot +get time for sewing."</p> + +<p>"I know that, for I was once a young girl in a town place like you are. +Here, take this ten shillings, and if you want more before the quarter, +you shall have it. City hours do not suit you, I am afraid," she added. +"You made a mistake when you left the country to better yourself."</p> + +<p>"I did, indeed," said Kate, after gratefully thanking the nurse for the +loan. "If I had to choose again—but it is of no use grieving. This is +a good place in many ways. I ought not to complain, for Mrs. Maybrick +never scolds."</p> + +<p>Nurse knew that she never would. If a girl did not suit or neglected +her work, no trouble was taken with her. She had to leave, and another +came in her stead. If she broke down in health, the result was the +same. She was there to do certain work for wages, not to be waited on +or nursed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maybrick did not scold or sympathise. The incapable—whether +through her fault or misfortune—had to go, and there was an end of the +matter. As a rule, there was not even an inquiry where she would go to. +Work and wages. No work, no wages, and mistress and maid parted, to be +equally "out of sight, out of mind, for the future."</p> + +<p>Kate held on till the quarter's end. She had come to Manchester in +June, and now it was the middle of September. It would evidently be the +few days after time in her case before her wages were paid, for Mr. and +Mrs. Maybrick were away from home. But Ashley kindly took care that she +suffered no inconvenience from the want of them.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what it is, my girl," said the nurse; "you will have to +get back to the country. You get thinner and paler every day, and it is +plain that town air does not suit you."</p> + +<p>"I don't feel well," replied Kate; "and yet I hardly know what is the +matter with me, because I have no particular aches and pains. Only my +limbs feel heavy, and I find the work harder to get through than I did. +I am not so young as I was," she added, borrowing one of cook's excuses +for sleeping on Sunday afternoons, and making a poor attempt at a laugh +over her weakness.</p> + +<p>Ashley looked pityingly at the girl and said, "If I were you, Kate, I +would write to your old mistress, and ask her if she will help you to a +place any where near where you lived before. It is not likely she would +take you back even if she could, but from all you have told me, she is +very kind, and the best friend you ever had."</p> + +<p>"I do not think I ought to ask her to help me," replied Kate, sadly +enough.</p> + +<p>"Is it that you don't like to humble yourself to ask? If you have any +feeling of that sort, put pride in your pocket, my girl. Setting aside +even the thought of whether it is right or wrong, let me tell you +nobody can afford to lose such a friend as that lady has been to you, +if they can any way keep her."</p> + +<p>"I am not proud, nurse. Mrs. Bateson knows how sorry I was for having +behaved so ungratefully to her. There is never a day that I do not +think of her goodness, and of the happy home I had at Heyington. But I +do not deserve that she should take any trouble for me, or that I ought +to ask for more when she has done so much for mother and the children +beside, even since I left."</p> + +<p>"I think that sort of feeling often keeps us from going to a greater +and better Master than all earthly employers," said nurse. "And yet, if +we would but believe it, those who most feel that they deserve nothing +are most welcome. It is the good-for-nothings, and the people who are +'all wants,' as one may say, and who are over head and ears in debt, +and have neither money nor price to bring along with them, to whom God +by His Holy Spirit is always crying, 'Come.'</p> + +<p>"And if they listen and go to Him, He supplies their wants, forgives +their sins, applies Christ's righteousness to them so that they are +accepted for the sake of what He did. He shows them that Jesus paid +that debt of theirs which has been troubling them so sorely, and that, +though He has done and given so much already, the more they ask, the +more ready He is to give."</p> + +<p>"I believe that," said Kate. "Indeed, I know it is true."</p> + +<p>"You are a happy girl then," replied Ashley, "and the thought of it +should make you willing to go to Mrs. Bateson. Go, I mean by writing +and opening your heart to her."</p> + +<p>"I don't quite see," said Kate, in a hesitating way.</p> + +<p>"Do you not feel sure that Mrs. Bateson is a real Christian lady?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, or she never would have been so good to me."</p> + +<p>"Then she must have in her something of the spirit that is in Jesus +Himself. You say she forgave you. I suppose you don't think she would +profess to do it without meaning what she said, that would be a poor +sort of half-and-half forgiveness. Our Father forgives and blesses. The +disciples are told, 'Be tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as +God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.'</p> + +<p>"Now you see, Kate, the forgiveness of the Christian will be like that +of the Master. Depend on it, your old mistress would be glad to do you +good, if she could see how. She has seen it and done it, too, already, +through your mother and the children."</p> + +<p>"I will write, nurse," said Kate; "and thank you with all my heart for +your kindness. You have cheered me many a time, and with such a friend +as you, I could work on, if only I felt strong enough."</p> + +<p>"God bless you, my girl," was Nurse Ashley's answer, as she put her +motherly arms round Kate and kissed her as she would have kissed her +own absent daughter—for she was a widow with an only child who was +cared for by an aunt—"I wish you were fit to stay, but it will be +better for you to go if you can."</p> + +<p>Kate lost no time in carrying out her resolution, and before she slept +that night, she had written to Mrs. Bateson.</p> + +<p>It was a very simply-worded letter, but it came from a full heart and +in it the girl, encouraged by Ashley's advice, ventured to tell all +that had befallen her since she came to Manchester. Her loneliness, her +longings after the home she had left behind, and of the sense of its +value which so soon came to her amidst her new surroundings.</p> + +<p>She told of the Sundays spent indoors, and of that first day out, +when she could choose her own way of spending it,—of the thankfulness +with which she sought the House of God, and availed herself of its +privileges, and of the Bible-class to which she had so fortunately been +led.</p> + +<p>She did not forget to mention the grey-haired lady who had shown a +kindly interest in her from that first meeting, or nurse's advice which +had decided her to write to her old mistress, though she could not help +feeling that she was taking a great liberty in doing it.</p> + +<p>There were no complaints of Mrs. Maybrick, or of the difference in +comfort and order between the two places. She was glad to tell that +her present mistress had never found fault with the way in which her +work was done, only Manchester did not seem to suit her health. And she +was nearly always feeling tired now, but she thought if she could only +get back to a quiet country place, she should be well directly. This +was why she ventured to ask if Mrs. Bateson knew of any such place and +would speak for her.</p> + +<p>Kate felt as if a load were lifted from her mind when that letter was +posted. She did not think the answer would be long in coming, for Mrs. +Bateson was always particular about replying soon.</p> + +<p>Hope made the girl look brighter, and brought a little flush to her +cheeks, but it did not last.</p> + +<p>On the following day, Mr. and Mrs. Maybrick returned, and the former +noticed Kate's pallor, and spoke of it to his wife.</p> + +<p>"I think," said he, "that young housemaid of yours is going to +break down. She looks wretchedly ill, so different from the rosy, +healthy-complexioned girl that came here—how long is it since?"</p> + +<p>"About three months. And by the way, her wages must be due."</p> + +<p>And Mrs. Maybrick, on referring to her book, found that they ought to +have been paid a fortnight before. She was not ungenerous, and she at +once called Kate, gave her the amount, and added a trifle as a present, +saying, "I have been pleased with your work so far, and hope you will +go on as you have begun."</p> + +<p>Then she left Kate without giving her an opportunity of answering.</p> + +<p>"You are right about that girl's looks, Arthur," she remarked to her +husband. "She has gone off terribly."</p> + +<p>"Did you ask her if she had been ill during our absence?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am certain she has not been laid by. And unless a girl actually +tells me she is ill, I think it is better to take no notice. Servants +are generally ready enough to complain if a finger aches. I should be +sorry to part with Kate. She has been thoroughly trained, knows her +work, and does it without any fuss.</p> + +<p>"But we have visitors coming in a fortnight, and I could not keep her +to be waited on. I hope, if she is going to break down, it will be +before they arrive, or not until they have left us again."</p> + +<p>And that was all the feeling excited in Mrs. Maybrick by the sight of +Kate's pale cheeks, and the dark rings round her heavy eyes. Her remark +about the readiness of servants to complain was less than just, and +particularly in Kate's case, for the girl had said nothing, except on +the one occasion to the nurse, and then with no desire that her words +should be repeated to her mistress. She was really most anxious to do +her work and to remain where she was until, after proper notice, she +might leave for some place the duties of which would not be beyond her +strength.</p> + +<p>She looked eagerly for a reply from her old mistress, and after the +time arrived at which it might have been expected, she waited the +postman's coming with feverish anxiety. But for ten days she looked in +vain. No letter came from Mrs. Bateson.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image019" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image019.jpg" alt="image019"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image020" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image020.jpg" alt="image020"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_8">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +HOPE DEFERRED-FAITH JUSTIFIED.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>"HAVE you not heard yet, Kate?" asked nurse, as she noted the girl's +disappointed face, after opening the door to the postman on the tenth +morning after her letter went.</p> + +<p>Kate shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Then depend on it Mrs. Bateson is from home."</p> + +<p>"But, think how long it is since my letter went. When she is away, the +letters are always forwarded. She must have had mine before now, and +she is not going to answer."</p> + +<p>Ashley would not agree to this. Her faith was stronger than Kate's, +though she had never seen the object of it.</p> + +<p>"Depend on it, if Mrs. Bateson has got your letter, she is trying to +hear of something before answering it. Places of the sort you want are +not quite so common as blackberries," said Ashley.</p> + +<p>This was reasonable enough, and Kate replied, "I dare say you are +right, only it would have been more like Mrs. Bateson to send me just a +line, to tell me as much.</p> + +<p>"I am beginning to be afraid that I shall not be fit for a place of any +sort, if I get no stronger. I can hardly keep on, and when there is +company beside, what I shall do, I know not."</p> + +<p>Two days later, and Kate, all unconscious of what was going on around +her, was lying in a sick ward in the Infirmary.</p> + +<p>She had broken down hopelessly, and, as Mrs. Maybrick said, "At the +most inconvenient time possible. On the very day before visitors were +expected to be a servant short, and with only a few hours in which to +look for another, was enough to try the patience of an angel.</p> + +<p>"What to do with the girl I cannot tell, for the doctor forbids a +railway journey, and her friends live—I really forget where—if I had +any one to send with her."</p> + +<p>This difficulty was solved by Mr. Maybrick, who, more pitiful than his +wife, arranged for Kate's admission to the Infirmary, and made himself +responsible for the expenses incurred on her behalf.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened, that when Mrs. Bateson's letter came, the girl was +not in a condition to receive it.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, Ashley was on the look out for the precious missive, +feeling always convinced that it would come, or it might have been +carelessly laid aside and never reached Kate's hand at all.</p> + +<p>The nurse would have liked to take it to the Infirmary herself, but +this Mrs. Maybrick would not allow, though there was nothing infectious +in her late housemaid's illness.</p> + +<p>"You must not think of it, nurse," she said. "Who knows what you might +bring home to the children by going to such a place, even if Kate's +illness is not of that character?"</p> + +<p>Ashley could only obey, but she wished to serve the girl, and as she +knew the name and address of the lady who conducted the Bible-class, +she ventured to call on her, and told her story.</p> + +<p>"The grey-haired lady," as Kate called her, Mrs. Ashton, was ready both +to listen and to help.</p> + +<p>She had, from the first, felt greatly interested in her country +scholar, and thus it happened that, when Kate became aware of what was +passing around her, the first familiar face she saw by her bed was Mrs. +Ashton's. She gave a little cry of gladness, but had to be contented to +be still and listen, instead of trying to talk. Only between her thin +fingers was placed a letter, addressed in the well-known writing of +Mrs. Bateson.</p> + +<p>That letter was better than medicine to the invalid. It was full of +kind words and promises of help. Nay, there was even the assurance of +a suitable place for Kate, so soon as she could be honourably free to +leave Mrs. Maybrick's service.</p> + +<p>At this, the tears came into the girl's eyes. Alas! She was not fit to +undertake the lightest duties, and when would she be? Perhaps never +again.</p> + +<p>She was not allowed to dwell on the dark side. A sweet-faced nurse +whispered hopeful words, which were but an echo of the doctor's. +Only time, patience, and good nursing were wanted. Then a stay at a +convalescent home in the country, and she would be as well as she had +ever been in her life.</p> + +<p>It was such a comfort to hear this, and to know, beside, that the delay +in answering her letter was owing to Mrs. Bateson's absence. She, her +husband, and eldest children had been travelling on the Continent, and +moving about from place to place, so that they did not receive letters +regularly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ashton undertook to write, on Kate's behalf, both to her former +mistress and her mother. And then the girl, glad and thankful beyond +expression, could only lie quietly, and obey to the best of her power +the injunction to get well as fast as she could.</p> + +<p>Having youth on her side, she made good progress, and her heart was +cheered from time to time by news from Heyington and home. The place +would be kept for her until she was fit for it.</p> + +<p>This news seemed almost too good to be true, but if Mrs. Bateson "said" +it, there could be no room for fear or doubt.</p> + +<p>The day came when Kate was considered well enough to be removed to the +convalescent home, and carefully wrapped and prepared for the journey, +she was conveyed to the railway station.</p> + +<p>"I am going to see you safe to the end," said the pleasant-faced nurse. +And Kate thought this was not the usual way of sending patients, who +went from the Infirmary, a batch at a time, in a sort of omnibus, as +the Home was but a few miles out of Manchester.</p> + +<p>She said something of this to the nurse, who smiled in reply, and told +her that was not the Home they were going to.</p> + +<p>"We go by train. A good friend of yours has settled all for you." And +the nurse busied herself in making Kate comfortable in a first-class +carriage.</p> + +<p>"Are you taking me to mother?" asked Kate, wistfully.</p> + +<p>"Not to your own home. It would not do for you yet. If you could get a +sleep now, it would help you over the journey nicely."</p> + +<p>And Kate, weak and easily wearied, did go to sleep, and only awoke when +the train stopped amid scenes familiar to her eyes.</p> + +<p>Surely this was Heyington! And that must be the carriage from the Hall +waiting for somebody, just outside the gate.</p> + +<p>Nearer still, on the platform, and looking eagerly towards the train +stood—yes, there could be no mistake about it—Kate's mother. There she +was, with a whole world of love in her eyes, waiting to welcome her +child, given back, it seemed, from the very verge of the grave, to her +loving arms.</p> + +<p>Neither Mrs. Evans nor Kate will ever forget the joy of that moment.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson might well be envied for having both the power and the +will to make two people so intensely happy, as were this mother and +daughter.</p> + +<p>Their happiness did not end with the meeting. It hangs about them +still, though years have passed since that bright day. It has grown +with each year, and Kate's store of precious memories increases every +day.</p> + +<p>Well, the girl found out for whom the carriage was sent to meet the +train she arrived by. It was to take her in the easiest way to the +Hall, which was to be first her "convalescent home," then her permanent +one. Kate's successor had not proved efficient, and it was her old +place that was being kept for her until she was able to take it.</p> + +<p>Truly Mrs. Bateson's goodness justified Nurse Ashley's faith. She did +not forgive by halves, but strove both to pardon, restore, and bless.</p> + +<p>Need it be told that Kate learned a lesson during her time of weakness +and suffering that she never afterwards forgot, learned to value +what she had once been indifferent about—the Christian mistress, the +well-ordered home, and the peaceful Sabbaths, which are God's good +gifts for the refreshment of weary bodies and longing souls.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bateson and her family have ever since had the most self-devoting +service from Kate, and the good mistress of the Hall has never +regretted that, following the example of her Divine Master, she was +enabled to forgive fully and freely.</p> + +<p>Kate has not forgotten Nurse Ashley's kindness to her, and now this +good friend's young daughter is under-housemaid at Heyington. Kate +has the higher place, and strives, by being a true friend to Margaret +Ashley, to repay in some degree the goodwill shown to her by the mother.</p> + +<p>More than one suitor has thought what a good wife Kate Evans would +make, but so far she has not been won. She is very happy, and in no +hurry to leave Mrs. Bateson's service.</p> + +<p>So we, instead, will leave her where we found her, only adding that she +has a mind at ease about her mother and those who are still left in her +cottage home. Blessed with strength to work and work to do, they are +equally happy and useful.</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image021" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image021.jpg" alt="image021"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78930 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78930-h/images/image001.jpg b/78930-h/images/image001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4992024 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image001.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image002.jpg b/78930-h/images/image002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..06a20b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image002.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image003.jpg b/78930-h/images/image003.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..57bbe90 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image003.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image004.jpg b/78930-h/images/image004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d0a8a8 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image004.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image005.jpg b/78930-h/images/image005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0fa8a4c --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image005.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image006.jpg b/78930-h/images/image006.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8390c99 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image006.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image007.jpg b/78930-h/images/image007.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a9af129 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image007.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image008.jpg b/78930-h/images/image008.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..810a19f --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image008.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image009.jpg b/78930-h/images/image009.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf8b601 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image009.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image010.jpg b/78930-h/images/image010.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..11b6237 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image010.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image011.jpg b/78930-h/images/image011.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ee0c681 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image011.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image012.jpg b/78930-h/images/image012.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0dd816b --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image012.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image013.jpg b/78930-h/images/image013.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0234401 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image013.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image014.jpg b/78930-h/images/image014.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..497d851 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image014.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image015.jpg b/78930-h/images/image015.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5626c7b --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image015.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image016.jpg b/78930-h/images/image016.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9bb35ba --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image016.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image017.jpg b/78930-h/images/image017.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c3b59b5 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image017.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image018.jpg b/78930-h/images/image018.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..73e0208 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image018.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image019.jpg b/78930-h/images/image019.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e681cf --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image019.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image020.jpg b/78930-h/images/image020.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..597ee88 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image020.jpg diff --git a/78930-h/images/image021.jpg b/78930-h/images/image021.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cde7587 --- /dev/null +++ b/78930-h/images/image021.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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