e Bathurst said to me, "Valerie, Lady R--was very much pleased with
your appearance when she made her visit yesterday; and as she told me,
after you had left the room, that she wanted just such a person as
yourself as a companion and amanuensis, I thought it right to say that
you were looking out for something of the kind, and that you were
remaining under my protection until you could procure it. We had more
conversation on the subject, and she said before she left, that she
would write to me on the subject. Her note has just been put into my
hands; you can read it. She offers you a salary of one hundred pounds
per annum, all your expenses paid, except your dress. As far as salary
goes, I think her terms liberal. And now, as to Lady R--. My opinion
of her is in few words. You saw her yesterday, and I never knew her
otherwise; never more or less rational. She is an oddity; but she is
good-natured; and, I am told, more liberal and charitable than many
others who can afford it better. Now you know all I can tell you about
her, and you must decide for yourself. Here is her note; you need not
give me an answer till to-morrow morning."

I made one or two observations, and then left the room. The note was
very kind, certainly, but it was as flighty as her manners. I hastened
to my own bedchamber, and sat down to reflect. I felt that I was not
exactly comfortable with Madame Bathurst, and certainly was anxious to
be independent; but still, I could not exactly make up my mind to accept
the offer of Lady R--. She was so different from those I had been
accustomed to live with. I was still deliberating, when Mrs Bathurst's
maid came into my room, telling me it was time to change my dress for
dinner. As she was assisting me, she said, "And so, Miss Chatenoeuf,
you are about to quit us, I find. I am so sorry--first, Miss Caroline--
now you. I hoped you would stay with us, and I should soon have become
an expert milliner under your directions."

"Who told you, Mason, that I was going to leave you?"

"Mrs Bathurst told me so, and not a quarter of an hour ago," replied
the woman.

"Well," replied I, "she told you truly, Mason; such is the case;" for
this information of Mason's decided me upon accepting the offer of Lady
R--; for Madame Bathurst, it appeared to me, had certainly decided it
for me, by making such a premature communication to her servant.

The reader may suppose, that when I made this discovery, I fe