“Yes,” answered La Fleur, “I am considering that; but it is not because I am dissatisfied with anything here.  It is altogether a different question.  I am very much attached to the family I first lived with in this country.  They are in trouble now, and I think they may need me.  If they do, I shall go to them.  I have quite settled all that in my mind.  I am now waiting for an answer to a letter I have written to Mrs. Drane.”

“La Fleur,” said Miss Panney, “if you leave Dr. Tolbridge, I think it will be a great mistake; and, although I do not want to hurt your feelings, I feel bound to say that it will be almost a crime.”

The cook’s face assumed an expression of firmness.

“All that may be,” she said, “but it makes no difference.  If they need me, I shall go to them.”

“But cannot somebody else be found to go to them?  You are not as necessary there as you are here, nor so highly prized.  They let you go of their own accord.”

“No one else will go to them for nothing,” said La Fleur, “and I shall do that.”

Miss Panney sat with her brows knit.

“If the Dranes have become poor,” she said presently, “it is natural that you should want to help them; but it may not be at all necessary that you should go to them.  In fact, by doing that, you might embarrass them very much.  There are only two of them, I believe,—­mother and daughter.  Do they do anything to support themselves?”

“Miss Cicely is trying to get a situation as teacher.  If she can do that, she can support her mother.  At present they are doing nothing, and I fear have nothing to live on.  I know my going to them would not embarrass them.  I can help them in ways you do not think of.”

“La Fleur,” said Miss Panney, “your feelings are highly honorable to you, but you are not going about this business in the right way.  I have heard of the Drane family, and know what sort of people they are.  They would not have you work for them for nothing, and perhaps buy with your own money the food you cook.  What should be done is to help them to help themselves.  If Miss Drane wishes a position as teacher, one should be got for her.”

“That is out of my line,” said La Fleur, shaking her head, “out of my line.  I can cook for them, but I can’t help them to be teachers.”

“But perhaps I can, and I am going to try.  What you have told me encourages me very much.  To get a position as teacher for Miss Drane ought to be easy enough.  To get Dr. Tolbridge a cook who could take your place would be impossible.”

La Fleur smiled.  “I believe that,” she said.

“Now what I do is for the sake of the doctor,” continued Miss Panney.  “I do not know the Dranes personally, but I have no objection to benefit them if I can.  But for the sake of a friend whom I have known all his days, I wish to keep you in this kitchen.  I am not afraid to say this to you, because I know you are not a person who would take advantage of the opinion in which you are held, to make demands upon the family which they could not satisfy.”