ble for Emily to share her
apartment with her young friend, that Mrs. Ellis concluded the matter
had been pre-arranged.

Deeply wounded and vexed on her own and Emily's account, Gertrude stood
for a moment silent. She then asked if Mrs. Ellis had spoken to Emily on
the subject. She had not. Gertrude begged her to say nothing about it.

"I cannot bear," said she, "to let her know that the little sanctum she
fitted up so carefully has been unceremoniously taken from me. I sleep
in her room more than half the time, as you know; but she always likes
to have me call this chamber mine, that I may be sure of a place where I
can read and study. If you will let me remove my bureau into your room,
Mrs. Ellis, and sleep on a couch there occasionally, we need not say
anything about it to Emily."

Mrs. Ellis assented. She had grown strangely humble and compliant within
a few months, and Gertrude had won her good-will, first by forbearance,
and latterly by the frequent assistance she had rendered to the
overburdened housekeeper. But, though yielding and considerate towards
Gertrude, whom, with Emily and Mrs. Prime, she now considered members of
the injured party to which she herself belonged, no words could express
her indignation with regard to the late conduct of Mrs. Graham and
Isabel. "It is all of a piece," said she, "with the rest of their
conduct! Sometimes I almost feel thankful that Emily is blind; it would
grieve her to see the goings-on. I should have liked to box Isabella's
ears for taking your seat at the table so impudently as she did
yesterday, and then neglecting to help Emily to anything at all; and
there sat dear Emily, angel as she is! all unconscious of her shameful
behaviour, and asking her for butter as sweetly as if it were by mere
accident that you had been driven from the table, and she left to
provide for herself. And all those strangers there, too! I saw it all
from the china-closet! And then Emily's dresses and muslins!--there they
laid in the press-drawer, till I thought they would mildew. I'm glad to
see Bridget has been allowed to do them at last, for I began to think
Emily would, one of these warm days, be without a clean gown in the
world. But all I wish is, that they'd all go off to Europe, and leave us
here to ourselves. You don't want to go, do you, Gertrude?"

"Yes, if Emily goes."

"Well, you're better than I am; I couldn't make such a martyr of myself
even for her sake."

It is needless t