"And, Miss Rachel," added the old servant, "you'll excuse me, but they

do say very odd things of the matron at that place, and I doubt you are

deceived in her. Our lads went to the the-a-ter the other night, and I

checked them well for it; but mother, says they, we had more call to be

there than the governess up to Miss Rachel's schule in Nichol Street,

dressed out in pink feathers."

"Well, Mrs. Rossitur, I will make every inquiry, and I do not think you

will find anything wrong. There must be some one about very like Mrs.

Rawlins. I have heard of those pink feathers before, but I know who the

matron is, and all about her! Good-bye. I'll see you again before you

go, I suppose it won't be till the seven o'clock train."

Mrs. Rossitur remained expressing her opinion to the butler that dear

Miss Rachel was too innocent, and then proceeded to lose all past cares

in a happy return to "melting day," in the regions of her past glories

as cook and housekeeper.

Rachel repaired to her room to cool her glowing cheeks, and repeat to

herself, "A mistake, an error. It must be a blunder! That boy that went

to the theatre may have cheated them! Mrs. Rawlins may have deceived Mr.

Mauleverer. Anything must be true rather than--No, no! such a tissue of

deception is impossible in a man of such sentiments! Persecuted as he

has been, shall appearances make me--me, his only friend--turn against

him? Oh, me! here come the whole posse purring upstairs to take off

their things! I shall be invaded in a moment."

And in came Grace and the two younger ladies, and Rachel was no more her

own from that moment.




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