"Was it advice given by a friend?"

"Given by a man, my lady, who was the worst enemy I have ever had."

Her considerate mistress understood the allusion, and forbade her to

distress herself by saying more. But Fanny felt that atonement, as well

as explanation, was due to her benefactress. Slowly, painfully she

described the person to whom she had referred. He was a Frenchman, who

had been her music-master during the brief period at which she had

attended a school: he had promised her marriage; he had persuaded her

to elope with him. The little money that they had to live on was earned

by her needle, and by his wages as accompanist at a music-hall. While

she was still able to attract him, and to hope for the performance of

his promise, he amused himself by teaching her his own language. When

he deserted her, his letter of farewell contained, among other things

the advice to which she had alluded.

"In your station of life," this man had written, "knowledge of French

is still a rare accomplishment. Keep your knowledge to yourself.

English people of rank have a way of talking French to each other, when

they don't wish to be understood by their inferiors. In the course of

your career, you may surprise secrets which will prove to be a little

fortune, if you play your cards properly. Anyhow, it is the only

fortune I have to leave to you." Such had been the villain's parting

gift to the woman whom he had betrayed.

She had hated him too bitterly to be depraved by his advice.

On the contrary, when the kindness of a friend (now no longer in

England) had helped her to obtain her first employment as a domestic

servant, she had thought it might be to her interest to mention that

she could read, write, and speak French. The result proved to be not

only a disappointment, but a warning to her for the future. Such an

accomplishment as a knowledge of a foreign language possessed by an

Englishwoman, in her humble rank of life, was considered by her

mistress to justify suspicion. Questions were asked, which it was

impossible for her to answer truthfully. Small scandal drew its own

conclusions--her life with the other servants became unendurable--she

left her situation.

From that time, until the happy day when she met with Iris, concealment

of her knowledge of French became a proceeding forced on her by her own

poor interests. Her present mistress would undoubtedly have been taken

into her confidence, if the opportunity had offered itself. But Iris

had never encouraged her to speak of the one darkest scene in her life;

and for that reason, she had kept her own counsel until the date of her

mistress's marriage. Distrusting the husband, and the husband's

confidential friend--for were they not both men?--she had thought of

the vile Frenchman's advice, and had resolved to give it a trial; not

with the degrading motive which he had suggested, but with the vague

presentiment of making a discovery of wickedness, threatening mischief

under a French disguise, which might be of service to her benefactress

at some future time.




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