nny's hand. 'And if you will accept this heart and hand,
miss,' says I, 'they are yours for ever.'

"'You, at least, I knew, sir,' says Fanny, with a noble curtsey, 'never
said a word that was disrespectful to me, or entertained any doubt of my
honour. And I trust it is only Madam Esmond, in the world, who can have
such an opinion of me. After what your ladyship hath said of me, of
course I can stay no longer in your house.'

"'Of course, madam, I never intended you should; and the sooner you
leave it the better,' cries our mother.

"'If you are driven from my mother's house, mine, miss, is at your
service,' says I, making her a low bow. 'It is nearly ready now. If you
will take it and stay in it for ever, it is yours! And as Madam Esmond
insulted your honour, at least let me do all in my power to make a
reparation!' I don't know what more I exactly said, for you may fancy I
was not a little flustered and excited by the scene. But here Mountain
came in, and my dearest Fanny, flinging herself into her mother's arms,
wept upon her shoulder; whilst Madam Esmond, sitting down in her chair,
looked at us as pale as a stone. Whilst I was telling my story to
Mountain (who, poor thing, had not the least idea, not she, that Miss
Fanny and I had the slightest inclination for one another), I could hear
our mother once or twice still saying, 'I am punished for my crime!'

"Now, what our mother meant by her crime I did not know at first, or
indeed take much heed of what she said; for you know her way, and
how, when she is angry, she always talks sermons. But Mountain told me
afterwards, when we had some talk together, as we did at the tavern,
whither the ladies presently removed with their bag and baggage--for not
only would they not stay at Madam's house after the language she used,
but my mother determined to go away likewise. She called her servants
together, and announced her intention of going home instantly to
Castlewood; and I own to you 'twas with a horrible pain I saw the family
coach roll by, with six horses, and ever so many of the servants on
mules and on horseback, as I and Fanny looked through the blinds of the
Tavern.

"After the words Madam used to my spotless Fanny, 'twas impossible that
the poor child or her mother should remain in our house: and indeed
M. said that she would go back to her relations in England: and a ship
bound homewards lying in James River, she went and bargained with the
captain about a pas