o the mother with
instructions to settle it on Mary how she liked, provided she would
come back to him. Afterwards she showed me his letters; they were well
written, and in a style above a man of his position in life.

She had lived in service ever since; with us she had then been a year
and a half, and had had but two other places. One she left because
a grown up son began to pay her too much attention. At the other the
master--a married man--made love to her, and one day tried to force her.
I know the last place, it was about three miles from us.

This news came like a cold bath on me. It suited my taste to have a
woman in the house. The idea of losing her was terrible. She refused
me my pleasures. I doubted her truth at times, but whenever I did, she
would fetch a letter as proof saying, "Now will you believe me?" She
refused to say where her home had been, and what her real name was. I
used to try to make out the postmark on her letters, but could not. They
were negligent in those days in such matters, and postage was dear.

And now I again asked if she had had any other but her husband and me;
by all that was holy she declared she had not. "How came you to let me?"
"God in heaven knows!" said she, "months ago if anyone had said such a
thing was possible, I should have said it was ridiculous; I only thought
of you as a tall boy, but that day I felt that my life was passing away
without the pleasures of a woman; what you did kneeling down in the
kitchen upset me, then I let you; though I thought I should ruin myself
by doing so."

She cared but little for her husband, for he had caused her to lead the
life of a widow for years. "Suppose I had done anything wrong," said
she, "and he had found it out, he would have cast me away; but you men
can do what you like, and we poor women have to submit." "But why go
back?" "Four months ago I would not have done so, but you have made me
find out I am a woman after all; you will understand that better as you
grow older. Not many would have kept chaste as I have done until that
night. Now I mistrust myself. I am getting fond of you, but what could
come of it? And if anything came to the ears of my mother and friends,
who are respectable, I should drown myself. I have got plenty of will of
my own, although I am quiet."

"You don't care much about poking?"

"I have had my wants, but suppressed them," she replied. "What did you
do?" "Oh!" said she in an off hand way, "what oth