“Ask better women than I am,” said Magdalen, sadly.  “I am only fit to feel for you, and I do feel for you with all my heart.  In your place I should have gone into service with a false character, too.  Say no more of the past—­you don’t know how you hurt me in speaking of it.  Talk of the future.  I think I can help you, and do you no harm.  I think you can help me, and do me the greatest of all services in return.  Wait, and you shall hear what I mean.  Suppose you were married—­how much would it cost for you and your husband to emigrate?”

Louisa mentioned the cost of a steerage passage to Australia for a man and his wife.  She spoke in low, hopeless tones.  Moderate as the sum was, it looked like unattainable wealth in her eyes.

Magdalen started in her chair, and took the girl’s hand once more.

“Louisa!” she said, earnestly; “if I gave you the money, what would you do for me in return?”

The proposal seemed to strike Louisa speechless with astonishment.  She trembled violently, and said nothing.  Magdalen repeated her words.

“Oh, ma’am, do you mean it?” said the girl.  “Do you really mean it?”

“Yes,” replied Magdalen; “I really mean it.  What would you do for me in return?”

“Do?” repeated Louisa.  “Oh what is there I would not do!” She tried to kiss her mistress’s hand; but Magdalen would not permit it.  She resolutely, almost roughly, drew her hand away.

“I am laying you under no obligation,” she said.  “We are serving each other—­that is all.  Sit quiet, and let me think.”

For the next ten minutes there was silence in the room.  At the end of that time Magdalen took out her watch and held it close to the grate.  There was just firelight enough to show her the hour.  It was close on six o’clock.

“Are you composed enough to go downstairs and deliver a message?” she asked, rising from her chair as she spoke to Louisa again.  “It is a very simple message—­it is only to tell the boy that I want a cab as soon as he can get me one.  I must go out immediately.  You shall know why later in the evening.  I have much more to say to you; but there is no time to say it now.  When I am gone, bring your work up here, and wait for my return.  I shall be back before bed-time.”

Without another word of explanation, she hurriedly lit a candle and withdrew into the bedroom to put on her bonnet and shawl.

CHAPTER II.

BETWEEN nine and ten o clock the same evening, Louisa, waiting anxiously, heard the long-expected knock at the house door.  She ran downstairs at once and let her mistress in.

Magdalen’s face was flushed.  She showed far more agitation on returning to the house than she had shown on leaving it.  “Keep your place at the table,” she said to Louisa, impatiently; “but lay aside your work.  I want you to attend carefully to what I am going to say.”