going to
offer to take me by the hand. It gave me such a turn!"

"I don't see why, if he had washed his hands," said Mrs Jane.

"Oh, Mrs Jane! what things you do say!"

Millicent had some excuse for her horror, since at that time shaking
hands was a form of greeting only used between relatives or the most
intimate friends. To give the hand to an inferior was the greatest
possible favour.

"Well," said Mrs Jane, locking the second trunk, "I expect Will Jackson
is a decent fellow, and will attend me very well. At any rate, I mean
to try him."

"Well, Mrs Jane, I have warned you!"

"You have so, Millicent. And if Jackson murders me before I come home,
I promise to agree with you. But I don't believe he will."

"Well!" repeated Millicent, "one thing is certain; the creature has
surely never been in a _gentleman's_ service before. I expect he has
followed the plough all his life. But I do hope, Mrs Jane, you may
come back safe."

"Thank you, Millicent; so do I," answered Mrs Jane.

The friends who were to accompany Mrs Jane arrived at Bentley Hall on
the Monday evening, and the party set out, eight in all, a little after
five o'clock on the Tuesday morning. Mrs Lascelles and Mrs Petre rode
behind their husbands; Mrs Jane behind her new man, Jackson. For Jenny
an escort was provided in the shape of Mr Lascelles' servant, a
sober-looking man of about forty years, whom she thought most
uninteresting. So they rode away from Bentley Hall, Robin Featherstone
kissing his hand to Jenny, and making her a very elaborate bow in the
background.

The first day's journey brought them to the house of Mr Norton, a
relative of the Lanes.

"Remember, Jackson," said Mrs Jane as she alighted, "I shall want my
palfrey by six to-morrow morning at the latest."

Jackson touched his hat, and promised obedience. Mr Norton led Mrs
Jane into the house, desiring his butler, whose name was Pope, to look
to her man, and to put Jenny in the care of Mrs Norton's maid. Jenny,
being unused to ride much on horseback, was sadly tired by her day's
journey, and very glad when bed-time came. She made one nap of her
night's rest, and was not very readily roused when, before it was fully
light, a tap came on Mrs Jane's door.

Mrs Jane sat up in bed, awake at once.

"Who is there? Come within," she said.

The answer was the entrance of Ellice, Mrs Norton's maid.

"I crave pardon for disturbing you thus early, madam, but my mistress