ith Lady Janet's full
concurrence, to Lady Janet's care. But for Mercy she would have been
received at Mablethorpe House as Lady Janet's companion, with a salary
of one hundred pounds a year. On the other hand, how long (with such a
temper as she had revealed) would Grace have remained in the service of
her protectress? She would probably have been dismissed in a few weeks,
with a year's salary to compensate her, and with a recommendation to
some suitable employment. What would be a fair compensation now? Lady
Janet decided that five years' salary immediately given, and future
assistance rendered if necessary, would represent a fit remembrance
of the late Colonel Roseberry's claims, and a liberal pecuniary
acknowledgment of any harshness of treatment which Grace might have
sustained at her hands. At the same time, and for the further satisfying
of her own conscience, she determined to discover the sum which Grace
herself would consider sufficient by the simple process of making Grace
herself propose the terms.

"It is impossible for me to make you an offer," she said, "for this
reason--your need of money will depend greatly on your future plans. I
am quite ignorant of your future plans.''

"Perhaps your ladyship will kindly advise me?" said Grace, satirically.

"I cannot altogether undertake to advise you," Lady Janet replied. "I
can only suppose that you will scarcely remain in England, where you
have no friends. Whether you go to law with me or not, you will surely
feel the necessity of communicating personally with your friends in
Canada. Am I right?"

Grace was quite quick enough to understand this as it was meant.
Properly interpreted, the answer signified--"If you take your
compensation in money, it is understood, as part of the bargain that you
don't remain in England to annoy me."

"Your ladyship is quite right," she said. "I shall certainly not remain
in England. I shall consult my friends--and," she added, mentally, "go
to law with you afterward, if I possibly can, with your own money!"

"You will return to Canada," Lady Janet proceeded; "and your prospects
there will be, probably, a little uncertain at first. Taking this into
consideration, at what amount do you estimate, in your own mind, the
pecuniary assistance which you will require?"

"May I count on your ladyship's, kindness to correct me if my own
ignorant calculations turn out to be wrong?" Grace asked, innocently.

Here again the words, prop