--he will neither take offence, nor listen to anything
I say."

"Let him pass. It will not do for us to frighten off too many at once.
But the new cook--what is she?"

"Fresh from Germany, and speaks no English."

"That will do. Now listen. You must intercede with General Harrington
for your poor old mammy, up yonder, as chambermaid, when this one is
gone."

Agnes opened her eyes wide, and a low laugh broke from her lips, that
were at first parted with astonishment.

"Mammy, what can you mean!"

The woman answered as much by the crafty smile, that crept over her
face, as by words.

"The old house is cold and lonely, Agnes, and the poor old slave will be
much more comfortable in a service-place for the winter, you understand.
She must have the place."

"In real earnest?"

"In real earnest."

"Well, it shall be done--but you will keep your word, this time."

"Have I ever broken it to you?"

"I don't know; in fact, until the whole of this affair is made plain to
me, all must be doubt and darkness. I know that my mission is to leave
distrust and misery wherever my voice reaches, or my step can force
itself in that household--yet they have all been kind to me, and most of
all, the lady herself."

"_She_ kind to _you_! I know what such kindness is. A sweet, gentle
indifference, that for ever keeps you at arms' length, or that proud
patronage of manner, which is more galling still. Oh, yes, I have felt
it. Such kindness is poison."

"I did not find it so," said Agnes, with a touch of feeling, "till your
lessons began to work. Then, acting like a traitor, I felt like one, and
began to hate those I wronged. But, I suppose this is always so."

The woman laughed. "You turn philosopher early, young lady. Most girls
of your age are content to feel and act--you must stop to analyze and
reflect. It is a bad habit."

"I suppose so--certainly reflection gives me no pleasure," answered the
girl, a little sadly.

"Well, well, child, we have no time for sentiment, now. The sun is
almost down, and you have a long walk before you--another week, and if
you manage to get your poor old mammy a place, we need not chill
ourselves to death in these damp woods. She will bring messages back and
forth, you know!"

Agnes shook her head, and laughed, "Oh, mammy, mammy!"

The woman mocked her laugh with a sort of good-natured bitterness.
"There now, that is easily managed, but there is something else for you
to undertake; wait