"Well, it's no wonder, either, for a
handsome-looking gentleman he is--tall, broad-shouldered, and kindly. He
will inherit an enormous fortune from old Mr. and Mrs. Bassett, for they
just idolize him. His mother was their only child. He always came here
once a year, ever since he was a little lad, they say, and all the old
servants love him."

The maid had scarcely finished her recital, concerning the coming of the
handsome heir, when the door was suddenly flung open, and Rosamond Lee,
breathless and flushed with excitement, sprung into the room.

"Where's my pale-blue dress with the black velvet bows? Get it for me,
somebody--anybody! I want to put it on at once!" she fairly cried.

"The pale-blue dress is not finished yet," Jessie answered, falteringly.
"You know you changed your mind about having it altered the next moment
after you had laid it out, and told me not to touch it until you decided
fully just how you wanted it done. I have been sewing on the rose-pink
cashmere--"

"You horrid creature!" screamed Rosamond Lee. "I can scarcely keep my
hands off you! You didn't want to see me looking well in my pale-blue
dress, and delayed fixing it on purpose. Oh, you horrid, horrid
creature!" and with this she seized Jessie Bain by the shoulders and
shook her until the girl's slender form bent like a reed in the storm.

The maid, who watched this proceeding, was fairly speechless with
terror. She would have flung herself between Jessie Bain and the
infuriated beauty had she dared, but she knew that would mean instant
dismissal, and despite her intense indignation, she was obliged to stand
there and coolly witness it all.

"There," cried Rosamond Lee, fairly out of breath, "I hope I have taught
you that I won't be trifled with. Now help me get on the rose cashmere
as quick as you can."

Jessie Bain never knew how she managed to fasten the dress on the irate
beauty.

The maid came to her rescue, noting that Jessie Bain was by far too
nervous to do the heiress's bidding.

The look of thankfulness she gave her amply repaid her.

A moment later Miss Rosamond flounced out of the room. The door had
scarcely closed after her ere Jessie Bain's strength gave way entirely,
and she sank to the floor in a swoon.

"Poor thing!" cried the maid, bending over her, "I shall advise her to
leave this place at once. But, after all, maybe it is with her as it is
with me--she would have no home to go to if she left here, and her ne