keeper asks me for my
character, I shall refer her to you. She will see you in the position
of mistress, and me in the position of maid--no suspicion can possibly
enter her mind, unless you put it there. If you only have the courage
to follow my instructions, and to say what I shall tell you to say, the
interview will be over in ten minutes."

"You frighten me, ma'am," said Louisa, still trembling. "You take my
breath away with surprise. Courage! Where shall I find courage?"

"Where I keep it for you," said Magdalen--"in the passage-money to
Australia. Look at the new prospect which gives you a husband, and
restores you to your child--and you will find your courage there."

Louisa's sad face brightened; Louisa's faint heart beat quick. A spark
of her mistress's spirit flew up into her eyes as she thought of the
golden future.

"If you accept my proposal," pursued Magdalen, "you can be asked in
church at once, if you like. I promise you the money on the day when the
advertisement appears in the newspaper. The risk of the housekeeper's
rejecting me is my risk--not yours. My good looks are sadly gone off,
I know. But I think I can still hold my place against the other
servants--I think I can still _look_ the parlor-maid whom Admiral
Bartram wants. There is nothing for you to fear in this matter; I should
not have mentioned it if there had been. The only danger is the danger
of my being discovered at St. Crux, and that falls entirely on me. By
the time I am in the admiral's house you will be married, and the ship
will be taking you to your new life."

Louisa's face, now brightening with hope, now clouding again with fear,
showed plain signs of the struggle which it cost her to decide. She
tried to gain time; she attempted confusedly to speak a few words of
gratitude; but her mistress silenced her.

"You owe me no thanks," said Magdalen. "I tell you again, we are only
helping each other. I have very little money, but it is enough for your
purpose, and I give it you freely. I have led a wretched life; I have
made others wretched about me. I can't even make you happy, except by
tempting you to a new deceit. There! there! it's not your fault. Worse
women than you are will help me, if you refuse. Decide as you like, but
don't be afraid of taking the money. If I succeed, I shall not want it.
If I fail--"

She stopped, rose abruptly from her chair, and hid her face from Louisa
by walking away to the fire-place.

"If I fa