ll the circumstances are in my
favor, if I am received into the house as a servant; and as a servant I
mean to go."

"But you are a lady, ma'am," objected Louisa, in the greatest
perplexity. "The servants at St. Crux would find you out."

"I am not at all afraid of their finding me out," said Magdalen. "I know
how to disguise myself in other people's characters more cleverly than
you suppose. Leave me to face the chances of discovery--that is my risk.
Let us talk of nothing now but what concerns _you._ Don't decide yet
whether you will, or will not, give me the help I want. Wait, and hear
first what the help is. You are quick and clever at your needle. Can you
make me the sort of gown which it is proper for a servant to wear--and
can you alter one of my best silk dresses so as to make it fit yourself
--in a week's time?"

"I think I could get them done in a week, ma'am. But why am I to wear--"

"Wait a little, and you will see. I shall give the landlady her week's
notice to-morrow. In the interval, while you are making the dresses, I
can be learning the parlor-maid's duties. When the house-servant
here has brought up the dinner, and when you and I are alone in the
room--instead of your waiting on me, as usual, I will wait on you. (I
am quite serious; don't interrupt me!) Whatever I can learn besides,
without hindering you, I will practice carefully at every opportunity.
When the week is over, and the dresses are done, we will leave this
place, and go into other lodgings--you as the mistress and I as the
maid."

"I should be found out, ma'am," interposed Louisa, trembling at the
prospect before her. "I am not a lady."

"And I am," said Magdalen, bitterly. "Shall I tell you what a lady
is? A lady is a woman who wears a silk gown, and has a sense of her own
importance. I shall put the gown on your back, and the sense in
your head. You speak good English; you are naturally quiet and
self-restrained; if you can only conquer your timidity, I have not the
least fear of you. There will be time enough in the new lodging for you
to practice your character, and for me to practice mine. There will be
time enough to make some more dresses--another gown for me, and your
wedding-dress (which I mean to give you) for yourself. I shall have the
newspaper sent every day. When the advertisement appears, I shall answer
it--in any name I can take on the spur of the moment; in your name,
if you like to lend it to me; and when the house