The New Magdalen

She waited again. Would a word of sympathy come to comfort her from the

other woman's lips? No! Miss Roseberry was shocked; Miss Roseberry was

confused. "I am very sorry for you," was all that Miss Roseberry could

say.

"Everybody is sorry for me," answered the nurse, as patiently as ever;

"everybody is kind to me. But the lost place is not to be regained. I

can't get back! I can't get back?" she cried, with a passionate outburst

of despair--checked instantly the moment it had escaped her. "Shall I

tell you what my experience has been?" she resumed. "Will you hear the

story of Magdalen--in modern times?"

Grace drew back a step; Mercy instantly understood her.

"I am going to tell you nothing that you need shrink from hearing," she

said. "A lady in your position would not understand the trials and

the struggles that I have passed through. My story shall begin at the

Refuge. The matron sent me out to service with the character that I had

honestly earned--the character of a reclaimed woman. I justified the

confidence placed in me; I was a faithful servant. One day my mistress

sent for me--a kind mistress, if ever there was one yet. 'Mercy, I am

sorry for you; it has come out that I took you from a Refuge; I shall

lose every servant in the house; you must go.' I went back to the

matron--another kind woman. She received me like a mother. 'We will try

again, Mercy; don't be cast down.' I told you I had been in Canada?"

Grace began to feel interested in spite of herself. She answered with

something like warmth in her tone. She returned to her chair--placed at

its safe and significant distance from the chest.

The nurse went on: "My next place was in Canada, with an officer's wife: gentlefolks who

had emigrated. More kindness; and, this time, a pleasant, peaceful life

for me. I said to myself, 'Is the lost place regained? _Have_ I got

back?' My mistress died. New people came into our neighborhood. There

was a young lady among them--my master began to think of another wife.

I have the misfortune (in my situation) to be what is called a handsome

woman; I rouse the curiosity of strangers. The new people asked

questions about me; my master's answers did not satisfy them. In a word,

they found me out. The old story again! 'Mercy, I am very sorry; scandal

is busy with you and with me; we are innocent, but there is no help for

it--we must part.' I left the place; having gained one advantage during

my stay in Canada, which I find of use to me here."

"What is it?"

"Our nearest neighbors were French-Canadians. I learned to speak the

French language."