is to know that so
long as I remain at Deepley Walls I shall be near you; and that of
itself would be sufficient to enable me to rest contented under worse
inflictions than Lady Chillington's ill-temper."

"You ridiculous Janet! Ah! if I only dared to tell you everything. But
that must not be. Let us rather talk of what your duties will be in your
new situation."

"Yes, tell me about them, please," said Janet, "and you shall see in
time to come that your words have not been forgotten."

"To begin: you will have to go to her ladyship's room precisely at eight
every morning. Sometimes she will not want you, in which case you will
be at liberty till after breakfast. Should she want you it will probably
be to read to her while she sips her chocolate, or it may be to play a
game of backgammon with her before she gets up. A little later on you
will be able to steal an hour or so for yourself, as while her ladyship
is undergoing the elaborate processes of the toilette, your services
will not be required. On coming down, if the weather be fine, she will
want the support of your arm during her stroll on the terrace. If the
weather be wet, she will probably attend to her correspondence and
book-keeping, and you will have to fill the parts both of amanuensis and
accountant. When Mr. Madgin, her ladyship's man of business, comes up to
Deepley Walls, you will have to be in attendance to take notes, write
down instructions, and so on. By-and-by will come luncheon, of which, as
a rule, you will partake with her. After luncheon you will be your own
mistress for an hour while her ladyship sleeps. The moment she wakes you
will have to be in attendance, either to play to her, or else to read to
her--perhaps a little French or Italian, in both of which languages I
hope you are tolerably proficient. Your next duty will be to accompany
her ladyship in her drive out. When you get back, will come dinner, but
only when specially invited will you sit down with Lady Chillington.
When that honour is not accorded you, you and I will dine here, darling,
by our two selves."

"Then I hope Lady Chillington will not invite me oftener than once a
month," cried impulsive Janet.

"The number of your invitations to dinner will depend upon the extent of
her liking for you, so that we shall soon know whether or no you are a
favourite. She may or may not require you after dinner. If she does
require you, it may be either for reading or music, or to play