other painful moment had been the third day after her new departure.
It seemed to force realisation upon her. Tacitly the early cup of tea
had been stopped. Mary now never came to the door, but breakfast was
laid for two in the dining-room at half past nine; the hot course stood
on a chafing dish over a tiny flame; the teapot was stocked and a kettle
boiled on its own stand. Neither of the servants ever appeared. On the
third day, however, as Victoria lay in her boudoir, reading, preparatory
to ringing the cook to give her orders for the day, there was a knock at
the door.

'Come in,' said Victoria a little nervously. She was still in the mood
of feeling awkward before her servants.

Mary came in. For a moment she tugged at her belt. There was a slight
flush on her sallow face.

'Well Mary?' asked Victoria, still nervous.

'If you please, mum, may I speak to you? I've been talking to cook, mum,
and--'

'And?'

'Oh, mum, I hope you won't think it's because we're giving ourselves
airs but it isn't the same as it was here before, mum--'

'Well?'

'Well, mum, we think we'd rather go mum. There's my young man, mum,
and--and--'

'And he doesn't like your being associated with a woman of my kind? Very
right and proper.'

'Oh, mum, I don't mean that. You've always been kind to me. Cook too,
she says she feels it very much, mum. When the major was alive, mum, it
was different. It didn't seem to matter then, mum, but now--'

Mary stopped. For a moment the eyes behind the glasses looked as if they
were going to cry.

'Don't trouble to explain, Mary,' said her mistress with some asperity.
'I understand. You and cook can't afford to jeopardise your characters.
From the dizzy heights of trained domesticity, experts in your own line,
you are justified in looking down upon an unskilled labourer. I have no
doubt that you have considered the social problem in all its aspects,
that you fully realise the possibilities of a woman wage-earner and her
future. By all means go where your moral sense calls you: I shall give
you an excellent character and demand none in exchange. There! I don't
want to hurt your feelings, Mary, I spoke hastily,' she added as the
maid's features contracted, 'you only do this to please your young man;
that is woman's profession, and I of all people must approve of what you
do. If you don't mind, both of you, you will leave on Saturday. You
shall have your full month and a month's board allowance. No