er hand to the knocker. Her errand was soon told.

"Please, ma'am, I heard that you wanted a servant."

"That is true," said Hester. "Where do you come from?--from any place
near, so that you can call again?"

"Surely," said Margaret, "it is Mrs Enderby's Susan."

"Yes, miss, I have been living with Mrs Enderby. Mrs Enderby will
give me a good character, ma'am."

"Why are you leaving her, Susan?"

"Oh, ma'am, only because she is gone."

"Gone!--where?--what do you mean?"

"Gone to live at Mrs Rowland's, ma'am. You didn't know?--it _was_ very
sudden. But she moved yesterday, ma'am, and we were paid off--except
Phoebe, who stays to wait upon her. I am left in charge of the house,
ma'am: so I can step here again, if you wish it, some time when you are
not going out."

"Do so; any time this evening, or before noon to-morrow."

"Did you know of this, Edward?" said his wife, as they turned the
corner.

"Not I. I think Mrs Rowland is mistaken in saying that nothing can be
kept secret in Deerbrook. I do not believe anybody has dreamed of the
poor old lady giving up her house."

"Very likely Mrs Rowland never dreamed of it herself; till the day it
was done," observed Margaret.

"Oh, yes, she did," said Mr Hope. "I understand now the old lady's
agitation, and the expressions she dropped about `last times' nearly a
month ago."

"By-the-by, that was the last time you saw her--was it not?"

"Yes; the next day when I called I was told that she was better, and
that she would send when she wished to see me again, to save me the
trouble of calling when she might be asleep."

"She has been asleep or engaged every time I have inquired at the door
of late," observed Margaret. "I hope she is doing nothing but what she
likes in this change of plan."

"I believe she finds most peace and quiet in doing what her daughter
likes," said Mr Hope. "Here, Margaret, where are you going? This is
the gate. I believe you have not learned your way about yet."

"I will follow you immediately," said Margaret: "I will only go a few
steps to see if this can really be true."

Before the Hopes had half crossed the meadow, Margaret joined them,
perfectly convinced. The large bills in the closed windows of Mrs
Enderby's house bore "To be Let or Sold" too plainly to leave any doubt.

As the skating season was nearly over, all the skaters in Deerbrook were
eager to make use of their remaining opportunities, and the banks of th