ess."--"Then I'll tell you what to do; take my advice, and
deny it." "Deny what?"--"Why, that you've broken the lamp-glass."--"What!
tell my mistress a lie? how can you give me such wicked advice?"--"Well;
it's no business of mine," said the cook; "if you won't tell her a lie,
I'll tell her the truth." I determined, however, to speak first. I could
not go about my usual work till I had spoken to my mistress; and yet, when
I heard the dining-room door open, and knew that she would be coming up, I
ran out of the room, and went up-stairs; my courage failed me, and I
hardly dared to go down again. From the top of the stairs I saw her go
into the room, and I saw the cook following her. I expected every moment
to be called. Soon the door opened, and the cook came out. I heard her
say, distinctly, "Indeed, ma'am, I'm afraid she'll turn out badly; but
I've done what I can to make her confess." At the sound of the opening of
the door, with a sudden determination, I had rushed down stairs, and was
within a few steps of the room as the cook came out. On seeing me, she
shut the door quickly, and turned quite red; then, speaking in a voice on
purpose for my mistress to hear, she said, "What! have you been
listening?" I made no answer; but went into the room.

There was an expression of displeasure on the face of my mistress as she
looked at me. She asked, "How did you break the lamp-glass? Tell me the
truth--for though I may pardon the accident, I will not pardon any
falsehood about it."

I begged that I might tell her everything, and that I might begin from the
day when I came to my place. I did so. I told her all, and very much in
the same way that I have just been writing it now. She listened to me with
great attention, and at parts of what I told her, I could see her
countenance change very much indeed. When I had done, she said, "Fanny,
you have told me that which has shocked me very much. I can say nothing
further to you till I have spoken to Mr. Morgan; meantime you must be
silent, and go on as usual."

Mr. Morgan was at that time from home, and not expected for some days.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Morgan had missed several bottles of wine from the cellar.
She had a distinct knowledge of three bottles that were not in their
places.

The morning after his arrival he did not go to London as usual. He and my
mistress were talking together in the study for a long time. I knew well
what they were talking about, and so flurried did I feel