w greatly
I desire it, or how poor I am. These are the only boots I have," and she
put out a much worn boot, which had been blacked until the leather was
nearly cracked apart. "And this my only decent dress, except a dark
calico. But I do not care so much for that. It is not clothes I want. It
is to pay that money to Lady Jane."

The tears were falling like rain from Bessie's eyes, and starting again
from her chair Miss McPherson went to an open window and shut it as if
she were cold; then returning to her seat, she said, abruptly:

"I thought you were engaged to Neil--he wrote me to that effect."

Bessie's face was scarlet as she answered:

"I was engaged to him then; I am not now."

"Did he break it, or you?" was the next question.

"I broke it," was the low response.

"Why?" came next from Miss McPherson, and Bessie replied:

"He did not wish me to come as steerage, and bade me choose between that
and him; and as I must come, and had no money for a first-class ticket,
I gave him back the ring, and he was free."

"Are you sorry?"

This was spoken sharply, and Miss McPherson's little round, black eyes
rested curiously upon Bessie, who answered promptly:

"No, oh, no. I am very glad. It is better so. We were not suited to each
other."

"I should think not!" and again the strange woman arose, and going to
the window, opened it, as if in sudden heat.

Then, returning to her niece, she continued:

"Were you in earnest when you said you would take a position as
housemaid?"

"Yes," was the reply; and Miss McPherson went on:

"Do you think you could fill it?"

"I know I could, I have been housemaid at home all my life. We never
kept any female servant but Dorothy."

There was a moment's silence, while Miss McPherson seemed to be
thinking, and then she said:

"Will you take that place with me?"

"With you?" Bessie repeated, a little bewildered; and her aunt replied:

"Yes, with me. Why not? Better serve me than a stranger. My second girl,
Sarah, was married a few weeks ago!--more fool she!--and I have no one
as yet in her place. If you will like it, and fill it as well as she
did, I will give you what I gave her, two dollars and a half a week, and
more if you earn it. What do you say?"

"I will take the place," Bessie answered, unhesitatingly, feeling that,
singular as it might seem to serve her aunt, she would rather do that
than go to a stranger. "I will take the place, and do the best I can,
and