The Yale expositor., 1894-10-19

dared not display. and the dignity
that she felt 1t due 60 herself to dis
play under tho trying circumstances
in which she found herself so un-
expectedly placed.
For Fletcher had taken il entirely
for granted, and as a perfect matter
of course. that she should accom-
panY her mistress to Pigeonwlck;
his duty was to his master, and hers
to Mrs Anderson, such duties hav-
ing been entered upon years before
there was any question of their
duty to one anothe', :, il indeed there
were any, as marriage, to Fletcher,
was but trifiing episode in his
career.
To break such bonds would only
be another and indeed it was on
record that after an especially rous'
! ing exchange of personalities,
Fletcher had put on his hat with the
intention of leaving her, and Martha
had promptly put on her bonnet
also with the intention of leaving
| him. but they had ended by divest-
| ing themselves OF their head gear
with solemnity beftting the abdi-
cation of a crown.
And now for Martha to have con-
fessed fondness for her natural
enemy would have been to confess
herself beaten in tho long matri-
monial duel she and Fletcher had
played. so Martha resolutely re-
| a. hA that AyntrI1 haNyn
intensely relieved her, kept a stiff
upper lip, and tongue in admira-
bic working order. and worked like
one possessed at the packing which
( Mary was so resolute to have COM
plet d within the stipulated time.
II Fletcher felt any secret qualms.
if he occasionally glanced at the
prospect OF an empty place hitherto
occupied by a little sharp.voiced,
comely woman, and thought with a
mans dismay of possible buttonless
| shirts aud unmeuded socks. he gave
no sign, nor did he seem to concern
| himself at al as TO whether Polly or
| cook would be left behind. though
this matter lay on Marthas mind
night and day. Polly's dimples had
never been more aggravatin1ly in
evidence than during these last
days. and as sho professed moreover
q wholesome hatred OF the country,
where areas are unknown. she was
heard openly enough to declare she
hoped she would be left in town TO
| look after "master."
Martha longed to slap those
saucy cheeks, and give the girl a
plain piece OF her mind The cook,
middle.aged woman, was one of
those persons who right through
life are strictly neuter in all things
"a condition of mind severely con-
demned by one OF the sages. but USE
full enough for the purposes OF every
day life. She objected to neither
town nor country. and so long as
she was comfortable, ignored the
surrounding landscape, so Martha
was careful to impress on her mis-
tress that Sarah was the very per-
son TO see after masters" comforts
at Harley street
"Only we want some one to cook
for u.s." said Mary, wearily who was
indeed in no trim for the miseries of
servant hunting, aud not until the
very night before they were depart
| ing. did she rouse herself to say
cook was to remain, and Polly was
to accompany them to Pigeonwick.
"You must manage till we get
another woman" Mary said, and
then Martha went off in triumph to
inform Polly she was to be with
drawn from the admiring eyes of the
tradesmen's young men, thereby
throwing that young woman into a
| fit OF weeping, and an ardent long
| ing to be "even" with Mrs. Fletcher.
"She's jealous of him, that's what
she is" wept poor Polly afterwards
| in confidence to the cook. jealous
of a bally old image like him! You'd
better look out for p'ison or dyna-
mite if you are going TO stop here J"
But Sarah. who was slow Of
speech, and had a hearty contempt
for the whole race of man, thought
she would be able to take care Of
herself anywhere.
The lawyers brought the deed of
| bbpdtdLlOu nOJ-lOOJ, anu III ndu DeeH
J duly signed and carried away again.
! Hitherto, only their own hearts had
divided the pair, but now the law,
or something very like it, had sun
dered them, yet 1t was John Ander-
sons hand, not Mary's. that faltered
on writing the necessary signature.
| Had she wavered once, would the
issue have been the same?
But no tremor or shadow OF regret.
showed in Mary's calm face as she
wrote the words that set seal upon
the abdication OF all a woman's s
dearest most cherished rights.
CHAPTER Will
You will go with your mistress,
Fletcher.
'Sir! Sir" .
"You heard me. Your wife and