“I did not sit up for him, for he was detained till a late hour, but I obeyed the breakfast-bell with unfashionable eagerness, as I was becoming nervous about our meeting, and really anxious to have it over.  After a delay of some minutes, I heard the wedded pair coming leisurely down the stairs, in, very amicable chatter.

“‘I am glad you like her, Laura,’ said a voice which I knew in a moment as that of George.  How I shivered as I caught the smooth reply, ’A nice little thing.  I am very glad of the connexion.  It will be such a relief not to rely entirely upon servants.  There should be a middle class in every family.’

“With these words she glided through the door, looked with perfect calmness in my flashing eyes, and said,

“’Ah, Fanny!  I, was just telling George here how much I shall like you.’

“The husband came forward with an embarrassed air; I strove to meet him with dignity, but my heart failed me, and I burst into tears.

“‘Forgive me, madam,’ I said, on regaining my composure—­’This is our first meeting since the death of our father.’

“‘I understand your feelings perfectly,’ she quietly replied.  ’My father knew the late Mr. Somers well, and thought very highly of him, He was charitable to a fault, and yet remarkable for discernment.  His bounty was seldom unworthily bestowed.’

“His bounty!  I had never been thought easy to intimidate, but I quailed before this unapproachable ice-berg.  It made no attempt from that moment to vindicate what I was pleased to call my rights, but awaited passively the progress of events.

“After breakfast, Mrs. Somers said to the maid in attendance,

“‘Dorothy, bring some hot water and towels for Miss Rankin.’

“She then turned to me and continued, ’I shall feel the china perfectly safe in your hands, cousin.  These servants are so very unreliable.’

“And she followed George to the parlour above, where their lively tones and light laughter made agreeable music.

“In the same easy way, I was invested with a variety of domestic cares, most of them such as I would willingly have accepted, had she waited for me to manifest such a willingness.  But a few days after my arrival, we received a visit from little Ella Grey, a cousin of Laura’s, who was taken seriously ill on the first evening of her stay.  A physician was promptly summoned, and, after a conference with him, Mrs. Somers came to me, inquiring earnestly,

“‘Cousin Fanny, have you ever had the measles?’

“I replied in the affirmative.

“‘Oh, I am very glad!’ was her response; ’for little Ella is attacked with them, and very severely; but, if you will take charge of her, I shall feel no anxiety.  It is dreadful in sickness to be obliged to depend upon hirelings.’

“So I was duly installed as little Ella’s nurse, and, as she was a spoiled child, my task was neither easy nor agreeable.