"Oh Anna," Miss Mary Wadsmith said it slowly and in a grieved tone of
surprise that was very hard for the good Anna to endure, "Oh Anna,
I didn't think that you would ever want to leave me after all these
years."

"Miss Mary!" it came in one tense jerky burst, "Miss Mary it's only
working under Miss Jane now would make me leave you so. I know how
good you are and I work myself sick for you and for Mr. Edgar and for
Miss Jane too, only Miss Jane she will want everything different from
like the way we always did, and you know Miss Mary I can't have Miss
Jane watching at me all the time, and every minute something new. Miss
Mary, it would be very bad and Miss Jane don't really want me to come
with you to the new house, I know that all the time. Please Miss Mary
don't feel bad about it or think I ever want to go away from you if I
could do things right for you the way they ought to be."

Poor Miss Mary. Struggling was not a thing for her to do. Anna would
surely yield if she would struggle, but struggling was too much work
and too much worry for peaceful Miss Mary to endure. If Anna would do
so she must. Poor Miss Mary Wadsmith sighed, looked wistfully at Anna
and then gave it up.

"You must do as you think best Anna," she said at last letting all of
her soft self sink back into the chair. "I am very sorry and so I am
sure will be Miss Jane when she hears what you have thought it best to
do. It was very good of Mrs. Lehntman to come with you and I am sure
she does it for your good. I suppose you want to go out a little now.
Come back in an hour Anna and help me go to bed." Miss Mary closed her
eyes and rested still and placid by the fire.

The two women went away.

This was the end of Anna's service with Miss Mary Wadsmith, and soon
her new life taking care of Dr. Shonjen was begun.

Keeping house for a jovial bachelor doctor gave new elements of
understanding to Anna's maiden german mind. Her habits were as firm
fixed as before, but it always was with Anna that things that had been
done once with her enjoyment and consent could always happen any
time again, such as her getting up at any hour of the night to make
a supper and cook hot chops and chicken fry for Dr. Shonjen and his
bachelor friends.

Anna loved to work for men, for they could eat so much and with such
joy. And when they were warm and full, they were content, and let her
do whatever she thought best. Not that Anna's conscience ever slept,
for neither