The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-09-24
CHAPTER Nv.

"
my beehive chair. A sleepy old man, in sun
ny back yard. is not an interesting object, am
well aware. But things must be put down In
their places, as things actually happened and
you must please TO jog on little while longer
with me, in expectation Of Mr.Franklin Blake's
arrival later in the day. 7
Before had time to dose of again, after my
daughter Penelope had left me, was disturbed
by q rattling of plates and dishes In the servants
hall, which meant that dinner was ready. Tax.
ing my own meals in my own sitting-room. ]
had nothing to do with the servants dinner, ex.
cept to wish them good stomach to II all round,
previous to composing myself once more In my
chair. was Just stretching my legs, when out
bounced another woman on me. Not my daugh-
ter again; only Nancy, the kitohen-maid, this
time. I was straight In her way out; and OBJ
served, as she asked me TO let her by, that she
had sulky face-a thing which, as head OF the
servants, l never allow, on principle, to pass me
without inquiry.
"whst are you turning your back on your
dinner fort" l asked. What's wrong now,
Nancyt"
Nancy tried to push by without answering; |;
upon which rose up, and took her by the ear.
She is nice, plump young lass, and It is custom-
ary with me to adopt that manner Of showing
that personally approve Of girl.
"Whats wrong nowi" said, once moro.
"Rosanna's s late again for dinner" says Man.
cy. "And I'm sent to fetch her In. AL the
hard work falls on my shoulders In this house.
Let me alone Mr. Betteredgee'
The person here mentioned as Rosanna was
our second housc-maid. Having a kind Of pity
for our second house-maid (why, you shall pres
emily know, and seeing in Nansy's face that she
would fetch her fellow-servant in with more
hard words than might be needful under the
circumstances, II struck me that had nothing
particular to do, and that might as well fetch
Rosanna myself giving her hint to be punct-
ual in future, which knew she would take kind
ly from me.
"Where is Rosannat'I inquired.
eat the sands, of course" says Nancy, with
n toss of her head. "She had another Of her
fainting fits this morning, anl she askel to 60
out and get breath Of fresh dir. l have no
patience with her."
"Go back to your dinner my GIRL" I said.
al have patience with her, and Ill fetch her In
Nancy (who has fine appctite) looked pleas
ell. When she looks pleased she looks nice
When she looks nice, chuck her under the chin
II isn't immoralty-it's only habit.
Well, | took my stick, and set oil Tor the
sands.
No il won't do to set of yet. nm sorry
again to detain you; but you really must near
the story of the sands, and the story OF kosanna
for this reason, that the matter OF the Dia-
mond touches them both nearly. How hard l
try to get on with my statement without stop
ping by the way, and how badly succeed But,
there !-Persous and things do turn up so vcx.
atiously in this life, and will In a manner insist
ON being noticed. Let us take it easy, and let
us take it short we shall be in the thick Of the
mystery soon, promise you!
Rcsanna Ito put the Person before the Thing,
which is but common politcness) was the only
new servant in our house. About four months
before the time am writing Of. my lady had
been In London, and had gone over lleforma-
tory, intended to save folorn women from DRIFT
ing back into bad ways, after they had got re-
leased from prison. The matron, sceingm lady
took an interest in the place, pointed out girl
to her. named Rosanna Spearman, and told her
a most miserable story, which haven't the heart
to repeat here for don't like to he male
wretched without any use, and no more do you.
Tn. upshot Of Il was, that Rosanna Spearman
had been thief, and not being Of the sort that
ret up Companies in the City, and rob from
thousands, instead Of only robbing from
one, the law, laid hold Of her, and the prison
and the reformatory followed the lead Of the law.
The matron's opinions Of Rosanna was Tin spite
Of what she had done) that the girl was one in
thousand, and that she ouly wantc,l chance to
prove herself worthy Of any Christian woman's
interest in her. My lady (bcing Christian
woman, IL ever was one yct) said to the matron
upon that. "Rcssnna Spcarman shall have her
chance In my service" In q week afterward
Rosanna Spearmsn entered this establishment
as r second house-maid.
Not a soul was told the girls story excepting
Miss Rachel and me. My lady, doing me the
honor TO consult me about most things, consulted
me about Rosanns. Having fallen good deal
lattcrly into tie late Sir Johns way Of always
agreeing with my lady, agreed with her heart
lily about Rosanna Spcarman.
A faircr chance no girl could have had than
was given to this poor girl Of ours. None Of the
servants could cast her past life In her teeth. for
none of the servants knew what Il had been.
She had her wages and her privileges, like the
rest Of them; and every now and then friendly
word from my lady, In private, to encourage
her. In return she showed herself, am bound
10 saw, well worthy Of the kind treatment be
slowed upon her. Though Tar from strong. and
troubled occasionally with those fainting Ats nj.
ready mentioned, she went about her work mod
es,ly and uncomplsiningly. doing II csrefally
and doing Il we'll. But somehow she failed TO
make friends among the other womcn-servants,
excepting my daughter Penelope, who was al-i