lmost fell,
and I put out my arm and caught her; and presently she was on her knees
there beside me, with her head in my lap.... And then we talked together
for a while. It was mostly me--she didn't say much--but, Charles, the
girl's done no wrong, no more than our child that's dead and in Christ's
bosom. She was so tired and worn. I got some milk and gave it to her, and
directly she went to sleep like a baby, with her head on my knee."

The two went closer, and looked down upon the slender form and still, dark
face. The sleeper's rest was deep. A tress of hair, fallen from its
fastening, swept her cheek; Mistress Stagg, stooping, put it in place
behind the small ear, then straightened herself and pressed her Mirabell's
arm.

"Well, my love," quoth that gentleman, clearing his throat. "'Great minds,
like Heaven, are pleased in doing good.' My Millamant, declare your
thoughts!"

Mistress Stagg twisted her apron hem between thumb and finger. "She's more
than eighteen, Charles, and anyhow, if I understand it rightly, she was
never really bound to Darden. The law has no hold on her, for neither
vestry nor Orphan Court had anything to do with placing her with Darden
and Deborah. She's free to stay."

"Free to stay?" queried Charles, and took a prodigious pinch of snuff. "To
stay with us?"

"Why not?" asked his wife, and stole a persuasive hand into that of her
helpmate. "Oh, Charles, my heart went out to her! I made her so beautiful
once, and I could do it again and all the time. Don't you think her
prettier than was Jane Day? And she's graceful, and that quick to learn!
You're such a teacher, Charles, and I know she'd do her best.... Perhaps,
after all, there would be no need to send away to Bristol for one to take
Jane's place."

"H'm!" said the great man thoughtfully, and bit a curl of Tamerlane's vast
periwig. "'Tis true I esteem her no dullard," he at last vouchsafed; "true
also that she hath beauty. In fine, solely to give thee pleasure, my
Millamant, I will give the girl a trial no later than this very
afternoon."

Audrey stirred in her sleep, spoke Haward's name, and sank again to rest.
Mr. Stagg took a second pinch of snuff. "There's the scandal, my love. His
Excellency the Governor's ball, Mr. Eliot's sermon, Mr. Marmaduke Haward's
illness and subsequent duels with Mr. Everard and Mr. Travis, are in no
danger of being forgotten. If this girl ever comes to the speaking of an
epilogue, there'll be in William