left in the way."--_Old
Proverb_.

As the door closed on Lilac, the news burst forth from Mrs Greenways in
such a torrent that it was difficult at first to follow, but at length
she managed to make clear to her astonished hearers all that had passed
between herself and Mrs Leigh. It was this: A lady staying at the
Rectory had seen Lilac at the concert, and asked whom she was.
Whereupon, hearing her history and her present occupation at Orchards
Farm, she made the following suggestion. She wanted a second dairymaid,
and was greatly pleased with Lilac's appearance and neat dress. Would
Mrs Leigh find out whether her friends would like her to take such a
situation? She would give her good wages, and raise them if she found
her satisfactory. "It's a great opportunity for a child like Lilac,"
Mrs Leigh had said to Mrs Greenways; "but I really think from what I
hear of her that she is quite fit to take such a place."

"Well, as to that," said Mr Greenways slowly when his wife paused for
breath, "I suppose she is. If she can manage the dairy alone here, she
can do it with someone over her there."

"Now I wonder who _could_ 'a told Mrs Leigh that Lilac made our
butter," said Mrs Greenways; "somehow or other that child gets round
everyone with her quiet ways."

"Most likely that interfering old Joshua Snell," said Bella, "or Peter
maybe, or Ben. They all think no end of Lilac."

"Well, I don't see myself what they find in her," said Mrs Greenways;
"though she's a good child enough and useful in her way. I should miss
her now I expect; though, of course," with a glance at her husband, "she
wouldn't leave us, not so long as we wanted her."

"That's for _her_ to say," said the farmer. "I'm not going to take a
chance like that out of her mouth. She's a good little gal and a credit
to her mother, and it's only fair and right she should choose for
herself. Go or stay, I won't have a word said to her. 'Tain't every
child of her age as has an offer like that, and she's deserved it."

"And who taught her all she knows?" said Mrs Greenways wrathfully.
"Who gave her a home when she wanted one, and fed and kep' her? And now
as she's just beginning to be a bit of use, she's to take herself off at
the first chance! I haven't common patience with you, Greenways, when
you talk like that. It's all very well for you; and I s'pose you're
ready to pay for a dairymaid in her place. But I know this: If Lilac's
got a drop of