usual wages: twenty pounds a year, is it
not?"

"Yes, Miss Valerie. I should not get half that in another situation,
but that is one reason why I am going to leave. Why should she give me
twenty pounds a year. I must find out why, and find out I will, as I
said to you before. She don't give me twenty pounds for my beauty,
although she might give you a great deal more, and yet not pay you half
enough."

"Well, Lionel, I think you have been here long enough. It is too late
to sit up to pay compliments. Fare you well."

I shut my door upon him gently, and then went to bed. As usual after
excitement, I slept long and soundly. When I awoke the next morning, I
found it was broad day, and nearly ten o'clock. I rang the bell, and it
was answered by the cook, who told me that she and I were the only
people in the house. I rose, and as I passed by my table, I perceived
another package lying by the side of the one which Lady R--had given me.
It was addressed to me and I opened it. It contained a miniature of
Lady R--when she was about my age, and very beautiful she must have
been. It was labelled "Sempronia at eighteen. Keep it for my sake,
dear Valerie, and do not open the paper accompanying it until you have
my permission, or you hear of my being no more."

I laid the miniature down and opened the first packet given me by Lady
R--. It contained bank-notes to the amount of one hundred pounds,
nearly double the salary due to me. The contents of both these packets
only made me feel more melancholy, and I sighed heavily as I put them in
my dressing-case; but time ran on, and I had agreed to be at Lady M--'s
at one o'clock, when the carriage would be sent for me. I therefore
hastened my toilet, closed the remainder of my luggage, and went down to
the breakfast which the cook had prepared for me. While I was at
breakfast a letter was brought by the post. It had been directed to
Madame Bathurst, and was redirected to Lady R--'s address. It was from
Madame Paon, and as follows:--

"My dear Mademoiselle de Chatenoeuf,--

"As I take it for granted that you do not see the French papers, I write
to tell you that your predictions relative to Monsieur G--, have all
proved correct. A month after the marriage, he neglected madame, and
spent his whole time at the gaming-table, only returning home to obtain
fresh supplies from her. These were at last refused, and in his rage he
struck her. A suit for separation of per