t morning showed a change in the social atmosphere.

Matilda came down-stairs, as she always did, the earliest of the
family. In the hall she encountered the housemaid, not broom in hand as
usual, but with her bonnet and shawl on.

"I'm going out this way, Miss, ye see, becaase it's shorter," she said
with a certain smothered mystery of tone.

"What is shorter? and where are you going, Jane?" Matilda asked, struck
by something in the girl's air.

"Och, it's no lady wouldn't expict one to stop, whin it's _that's_ the
matter."

"When what is the matter? what do you mean? Are you going away?"

"Faith, it's glad I be, to be off; and none too soon. I'd show 'em the
back of me head, you, dear, if it was me, goin' out at the front door.
The likes o' you isn't obleeged to stop no more nor meself." This
advice was given in the same mysterious undertone, and puzzled Matilda
exceedingly.

"But, Jane," she said, catching the woman's shawl as she would have
left her, "you know York is away; and there is nobody to do things.
Mrs. Laval will want you."

"She's welcome to want me," said the girl. "I didn't engage fur to
serve in an hospital, and I won't do it. Me life is as good to me,
sure, as her own, or anybody's."

"But what shall I tell Mrs. Laval? Aren't you coming back?"

"Niver a bit, till the sickness is gone." And with that the girl would
not be kept, but got away.

Matilda stood bewildered. Yes, she saw the broom and duster had been
nowhere that morning. Everything was left. It was early yet. The
sunbeams came slant and cool upon the white frost outside, as Jane
opened the door; and so when the door was shut they stole in upon the
undusted hall and rooms. Matilda softly made her way to the kitchen
stairs and went down, fearing lest there might be more defaulters in
the house hold. To her relief, she found the cook moving about
preparing for some distant breakfast. But breakfast was never an early
meal.

"Good morning, Mrs. Mattison," said the child. "I came down to see if
there was anybody here. I met Jane just now, going out."

"I'm here yet," said Mattison. "I'll get your breakfast, before I'm
off."

"Are you going too?"

"Take my advice, and don't _you_ stop," said the woman. "You ain't a
fixture so you can't get away. I'd go, fust thing, if I was you."

"Why?" said Matilda; "and what for are you all going like this? It is
using Mrs. Laval very badly, I think."

"Folks must take care of their own fl