in the family way," said Mary with a sigh. "My God are you?--how
unfortunate!--are you sure?" "Yes, I knew I should be." "What is to
be done?" "What I have done before." "You have been in the family way
then?" "Yes twice, he wanted me to have the child, but I would not
unless I were married."

Mary took medicine and was ill, another monthly holiday came, and was
spent at the house. A few days afterwards Mary was looking blank. Her
Mistress told me she had dismissed her. "Why?" I asked. "She was no
good, and not a good servant." Mary was sacked at the end of the week,
I could not of course interfere without injuring the poor woman, and
implicating myself,--no good to either of us.

So soon as she had left our house I was told all that Mary had told me
of herself, the Mistress evidently feared that Mary might seduce me, or
go astray somehow. That is what the poor girl got for telling her true
history to her. Said she also, "She has been taking strong medicine, and
I believe it was to bring on her courses." She knew they had stopped.
Her sister had advised her not to keep a female in the house who had
diamond rings, a gold watch and chain, and silk dresses. It was evident
to me that the poor girl's history had been told to more than one
person.

Mary broken-hearted took lodgings in a cottage close by, and did
needle-work. "Nothing," said she, "shall make me go to service again, I
only did it to please him, hoping he would come back to me, but I hate
service, and don't care what becomes of me." She was always at home. I
visited her regularly for two or three months, giving her what little
money I could, but she was reckless and would spend money in comfort,
though not in show. She came out with me not in her silk dresses, but
her plainest ones, and little by little pawned her dresses, rings, and
all her finery. Then she worked harder and harder, besought me to give
her just enough to keep her, however humbly, for go to service she would
not again. Again she got with child.

All this time of course our fucking was regular, but although I liked
her, and more than liked her, I never had a strong affection for her.
When her money-was gone, and she was poor in clothes, she was still
cheerful. I gave what I could, but could with difficulty keep out of
debt, and insisted on her going to service. "Then we shall never see
each other," said she, and begged me to go on, allowing a trifle; I
did so, being content with her, never fi