he pity
and indignation which he could not express to the man whose sufferings
excited these emotions.

In spite of this visit Sophia sought Eliza again the next day. As she
entered the hotel Mr. Hutchins begged a word with her in his little
slate-painted office, saying that the young housekeeper had not been
like herself for some time, and that he was uneasy, for she made a
friend of no one.

"Are you afraid of losing her?" asked Miss Rexford coldly, with slight
arching of her brows.

He replied candidly that he had no interest in Eliza's joys or sorrows,
except as they might tend to unsettle her in her place. Having, by the
use of his own wits, discovered her ability, he felt that he had now a
right to it.

Sophia went upstairs, as she was directed, to Eliza's bedroom on the
highest storey, and found her there, looking over piles of freshly
calendered house linen. The room was large enough, and pleasant--a
better bedroom than Sophia or her sisters at present possessed. Eliza
was apparently in high spirits. She received her guest with almost loud
gaiety.

"What do you think's happened now, Miss Sophia?" cried she. "You
remember what I told you about Mrs. Glass? Well, there's two young
gentlemen come to the house here yesterday morning, and she's
entertained them before at her house in town, so they struck up great
friends with her here, and yesterday she had her supper served in the
upstairs parlour, and had them, and me, and nobody else. She says one of
them saw me out yesterday morning, and was 'smitten'--that's what she
calls it."

Eliza gave an affected laugh as she repeated the vulgar word, and
coloured a little. "She says if I'll come to see her in town she's no
doubt but that he'll 'propose.'".

"But I thought you were not going?"

"I don't care for her," said Eliza, as if ingratitude were a virtue,
"but I rather like the young gentleman. That makes a difference. Look
here! She says he's getting on in business, and would give me a
carriage. How do you think I should look driving in a carriage, like
Mrs. Brown? Should I look as grand as she does?"

"Much grander, I daresay, and much handsomer."

"They all give dinner parties at Montreal." Eliza said this
reflectively, speaking the name of that city just as an English country
girl would speak of "London." "Don't you think I could go to dinner
parties as grand as any one? And, look here, they showed me all sorts of
photographs the Montreal ladies get