with a vague sense of anxiety. Was
not London said to be a place of temptation for inexperienced country
girls? Could she keep Milly safe and innocent if she took her away from
Angleford?

"You would have all the work of the house to do, and to look after Mrs.
Campion a little as well," she said seeking to put her vague anxiety
into the form of a warning or an objection. But Milly only smiled.

"I'm very strong, Miss Lettice. I am sure I can do all that you want.
And I should like to go to London with you. One hears such fine tales of
London--and I don't want to leave mistress and you." Though this was
evidently an afterthought.

"You will see very little of London, Milly; I shall live in a very quiet
part," said Lettice. "And I shall want you to be very good and steady,
and take care of my mother when I am busy. I shall have to work hard
now, you know; quite as hard as you."

Milly looked up quickly; there was inquiry in her eyes. But she answered
only by protestations of good behavior and repeated desires to go with
her young mistress; and Lettice gave her a promise, subject to the
consent of Milly's grandmother, who lived at Birchmead, that she would
take the girl with her when she went away.

Old Mrs. Harrington had no objection at all to Milly's going to London.
"Indeed, Miss Lettice," she said, "I'm only too glad to think of your
looking after her, for Milly's not got much sense, I'm afraid, although
she's a woman grown."

"I always thought her unusually clever and sensible," said Lettice, in
some surprise.

"Clever, miss, she always was, but sensible's a different affair. Her
head's filled with foolishness, all along of her reading story books, I
tell her; and she's got an idea that her pretty face will bring her a
rich husband, and I don't know what beside. I shall be obliged to you,
miss, if you'll kindly keep a sharp eye and a tight hand over Milly. Not
but what she's a good kind-hearted girl," said the old woman, relenting
a little, as she saw a rather startled expression on Miss Campion's
face, "and I don't think there's any harm in her, but girls are always
better for being looked after, that is all."

"I'll try to take care of Milly," said Lettice, as she rose to go. "But
my care will be of very little use if she does not take care of
herself."

She was fated on the same day to hear a remonstrance from the doctor's
wife, Mrs. Budworth, on the subject of her choice of a servant. Mrs.
Budworth wa