town and take another place? There are many of our friends who
would be very glad to get you."

"I'm no' sure, Miss Elliott. I have grown so fractious and contrary
lately that maybe my sister winna care to have me. And as to another
place--"

Nelly stopped suddenly. If she had said her say, it would have been
that she could bear the thought of no other place. But she said
nothing, and went away--ran away, indeed. For when she saw the
sorrowful tears in Graeme's eyes, and felt the warm pressure of her
hand, she felt she must run or break out into tears; and so she ran,
never stopping to answer when Graeme said:

"You'll let us hear from you, Nelly. You'll surely let us hear from you
soon?"

There was very little said about the new order of affairs. The
remonstrance which Fanny expected from Graeme never came. Mrs Grove
continued to discuss domestic affairs, and to leave Graeme out, and she
was quite willing to be left out, and, after a little, things moved on
smoothly. Mrs Tilman was a very respectable-looking person. A little
stout, a little red in the face, perhaps. Indeed, very stout and very
red in the face; so stout that Arthur suggested the propriety of having
the kitchen staircase widened for her benefit; and so red in the face as
to induce Graeme to keep her eyes on the keys of the sideboard when
Fanny, as she was rather apt to do, left them lying about. She was a
very good servant, if one might judge after a week's trial; and Fanny
might have triumphed openly if it had not been that she felt a little
uncomfortable in finding herself, without a struggle, sole ruler in
their domestic world. Mrs Tilman marketed, and purchased the
groceries, and that in so dignified a manner that Fanny almost wondered
whether the looking over the grocer's book and the butcher's book might
not be considered an impertinent interference on her part. Her remarks
and allusions were of so dignified a character as to impress her young
mistress wonderfully. She was almost ashamed of their limited
establishment, in view of Mrs Tilman's magnificent experiences. But
the dignified cook, or housekeeper, as she preferred being called, had
profited by the afflictive dispensations that seemed to have fallen upon
her, and resigned herself to the occupancy of her present humble sphere
in a most exemplary manner.

To be sure, her marketing and her shopping, interfered a little with her
less conspicuous duties, and a good deal m