it, for I longed to know the truth: the atmosphere of
Grassdale seemed to stifle me, and I could only live by thinking of
Wildfell Hall.

At last, one morning, she entered my chamber with such intelligence that
my resolution was taken before she had ceased to speak. While she
dressed me I explained to her my intentions and what assistance I should
require from her, and told her which of my things she was to pack up, and
what she was to leave behind for herself, as I had no other means of
recompensing her for this sudden dismissal after her long and faithful
service: a circumstance I most deeply regretted, but could not avoid.

'And what will you do, Rachel?' said I; 'will you go home, or seek
another place?'

'I have no home, ma'am, but with you,' she replied; 'and if I leave you
I'll never go into place again as long as I live.'

'But I can't afford to live like a lady now,' returned I: 'I must be my
own maid and my child's nurse.'

'What signifies!' replied she, in some excitement. 'You'll want somebody
to clean and wash, and cook, won't you? I can do all that; and never
mind the wages: I've my bits o' savings yet, and if you wouldn't take me
I should have to find my own board and lodging out of 'em somewhere, or
else work among strangers: and it's what I'm not used to: so you can
please yourself, ma'am.' Her voice quavered as she spoke, and the tears
stood in her eyes.

'I should like it above all things, Rachel, and I'd give you such wages
as I could afford: such as I should give to any servant-of-all-work I
might employ: but don't you see I should be dragging you down with me
when you have done nothing to deserve it?'

'Oh, fiddle!' ejaculated she.

'And, besides, my future way of living will be so widely different to the
past: so different to all you have been accustomed to--'

'Do you think, ma'am, I can't bear what my missis can? surely I'm not so
proud and so dainty as that comes to; and my little master, too, God
bless him!'

'But I'm young, Rachel; I sha'n't mind it; and Arthur is young too: it
will be nothing to him.'

'Nor me either: I'm not so old but what I can stand hard fare and hard
work, if it's only to help and comfort them as I've loved like my own
bairns: for all I'm too old to bide the thoughts o' leaving 'em in
trouble and danger, and going amongst strangers myself.'

'Then you sha'n't, Rachel!' cried I, embracing my faithful friend.
'We'll all go together, and you shall see ho