you say you're--a chambermaid?" That was the first question
which Chaffanbrass asked, and Bridget Bolster gave a little start as
she heard his sharp, angry, disagreeable voice.

"Yes, I am, sir, at Palmer's Imperial Hotel, Plymouth, Devonshire;
and have been for nineteen years, upper and under."

"Upper and under! What do upper and under mean?"

"When I was under, I had another above me; and now, as I'm upper, why
there's others under me." So she explained her position at the hotel,
but she never took her eyes from the canopy.

"You hadn't begun being--chambermaid, when you signed these
documents?"

"I didn't sign only one of 'em."

"Well, one of them. You hadn't begun being chambermaid then?"

"No, I hadn't; I was housemaid at Orley Farm."

"Were you upper or under there?"

"Well, I believe I was both; that is, the cook was upper in the
house."

"Oh, the cook was upper. Why wasn't she called to sign her name?"

"That I can't say. She was a very decent woman,--that I can say,--and
her name was Martha Mullens."

So far Mr. Chaffanbrass had not done much; but that was only the
preliminary skirmish, as fencers play with their foils before they
begin.

"And now, Bridget Bolster, if I understand you," he said, "you
have sworn that on the 14th of July you only signed one of these
documents."

"I only signed once, sir. I didn't say nothing about the 14th of
July, because I don't remember."

"But when you signed the one deed, you did not sign any other?"

"Neither then nor never."

"Do you know the offence for which that lady is being tried--Lady
Mason?"

"Well, I ain't sure; it's for doing something about the will."

"No, woman, it is not." And then, as Mr. Chaffanbrass raised his
voice, and spoke with savage earnestness, Bridget again started, and
gave a little leap up from the floor. But she soon settled herself
back in her old position. "No one has dared to accuse her of that,"
continued Mr. Chaffanbrass, looking over at the lawyers on the other
side. "The charge they have brought forward against her is that of
perjury--of having given false evidence twenty years ago in a court
of law. Now look here, Bridget Bolster; look at me, I say." She
did look at him for a moment, and then turned her eyes back to the
canopy. "As sure as you're a living woman, you shall be placed there
and tried for the same offence,--for perjury,--if you tell me a
falsehood respecting this matter."

"I won't say nothing but