.

When I was alone, I just knelt down and asked that even here I might be
given some work to do, and, above all, that I might not be ashamed to
own my Master.

Miss Rayner appeared at dinner in a severe black silk made perfectly
plain; she glanced at my lighter costume as we took our seats at the
table, and said,--

'How many of those flimsy gowns have you brought with you? I told you
I should have no company.'

'I have only one other with me,' I replied meekly.

'I think girls spend more money on evening dresses than any other
object, and generally look the worse for them,' she continued. 'Why on
earth women shouldn't have a universal dress suit, like the men, I
can't imagine.'

'You do not mean the same as the men's?' I said, laughing.

'The same in colour, if not in cut,' she said briskly. 'Black and
white would be suitable for young and old, and the variety of face
would be more noticeable, instead of as now, the variety of dress.'

And then she turned to other subjects, giving me an amusing account of
her last visit to Chicago, and the people she had been introduced to
there.

When dinner was over we went back to the drawing-room, and without
further preface she said,--

'And now just tell me why you are giving my poor dear sister such
trouble? It's enough to turn her hair grey, from her own account!'

Her tone was mocking, and I hesitated in complying with her request.

'Are you afraid of me?' she said, with a little laugh, after a minute's
silence.

I looked her full in the face. 'No, I don't think I am; but I am
afraid you will not understand.'

'My intellect may not be quite so keen and bright as yours, but if you
try to use very simple language, perhaps I may be able to grasp your
meaning.'

I coloured, and said confusedly, 'I am very sorry I am vexing Mrs.
Forsyth so. I did not know when I came to live with General Forsyth
that it would be so difficult. I don't care for gaiety, and don't wish
to be drawn into it; and they want me to be the same as their
daughters. It is their kindness that makes it so hard to hold out
against their wishes.'

'And are you living only to please yourself?'

'I hope not,' I said slowly, as I took in the drift of her question;
'it is because I don't want to live for self that I feel it right to
act so.'

Miss Rayner smiled a little contemptuously, I fancied.

'Oh, you young girls!' was all she said; but her tone silenced me.

After a few minute