Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 66

"She knew my grandfather," was the quiet answer. "He is dead."

"Lately?" said Lady Bell, glancing at the note.

Laura Treherne bent her head.

"Two months ago," she said, sadly.

"And have you no friends with whom you could go and live?"

"None who would care to have me, or to whom I should wish to go."

Lady Bell was silent for a moment--the girl interested her more each minute.

"Are you taking a wise step in seeking for a situation which is considered menial?" she asked.

Laura Treherne paused for a moment.

"I do not think it degradation to serve Lady Earlsley," she said.

Lady Bell smiled, not ill pleased.

"You mean to say that you would not accept any situation?"

Laura Treherne inclined her head.

"How did you know that I wanted a maid?"

"I heard it in the house where I am lodging," she replied.

"And you knew me?"

"Yes; I had heard of you, my lady."

"Have you any other testimonials besides this note of Lady Challoner's?"

"None, my lady."

Lady Bell hesitated.

"It is quite sufficient," she said; "but I am afraid you do not understand the duties of a lady's maid."

"I think so, my lady. What I do not know now, I can soon learn."

"That's true. And I see you do not wish your real name to transpire?"

"I would rather that it did not. I would rather be known by some other name," answered Laura Treherne.

"Why?"

There was a moment's hesitation, and the dark face paled slightly.

"I thought Lady Challoner had explained. My friends----"

"You do not care for your friends to know that you are in a situation?

You think their pride would be greater than your own?"

"Exactly, my lady."

"Well, I'll engage you," she said. "When can you come? I have no maid at present."

"Now, at once, if your ladyship wishes. I will stay now, and send for my luggage, if you please."

"Very well," said Lady Bell. "Come to my room in half an hour, and we will arrange matters. You have said nothing about salary."

"That I leave in your ladyship's hands."

"Like the cabmen," said Lady Bell, laughing. "Well, come to my room in half an hour."

Laura Treherne bowed and left the room, and Mrs. Fellowes lifted up her voice in remonstrance.

"My dear Bell, that letter may be a forgery."

"It might be, but it isn't. I can read faces, and I like that young lady's. Yes, she's a lady, poor girl. Well, she might have hit upon a worse mistress; I shan't bang her about the head with a hair brush when I'm in a temper, as Lady Courtney does her maid. There, spare your remonstrances, my dear. The girl's engaged, and I mean to keep her. And now there are three or four people coming to dinner, Mr. and Mrs.

Davenant, Jack--I mean Mr. Newcombe--and that strange girl, Una. What a lovely creature she is! Do you know I rather think she will become Mrs.

Stephen Davenant."

"She is a very nice girl," said Mrs. Fellowes. "She ought to make a good match."

"_Ay de me_," said Lady Bell, with a sigh. "I'm sick of that word. Men and women don't 'marry' now, they make 'good matches.' My dear, I hate your worldly way of looking at matrimony. If I were a poor girl, I'd marry the man of my heart, if he hadn't a penny. Ah, and if he were the baddest of bad lots."

"Like Jack Newcombe, for instance," said Mrs. Fellowes, archly.

"Yes," said Lady Bell, turning with the door in her hand; "like Jack Newcombe," and she ran up to her room.

Punctual to the minute, Laura Treherne knocked at the door of the dressing-room. Lady Bell was seated before the gla.s.s, surrounded by her walking clothes, which, as was her custom, she had slipped out of or flung carelessly aside.

Without a word Laura picked them up and put them in the wardrobe, and without a word took up the hair brushes. Lady Bell watched her in the gla.s.s, and gave her a hint now and then, and when her hair was dressed glanced round approvingly.

"Yes," she said, "that is very nice; and you have not hurt me once. The last maid used to pull me terribly. I suppose she was thinking of her young man. By the way, are you engaged?"

The dark face flushed for a moment, then grew pale.

"No, my lady."

"I'm glad of it. Take my advice and don't be. That sounds selfish, doesn't it. Now you want to know what I am going to wear. I don't know myself. What would you choose? Go to the wardrobe."

Laura went to the wardrobe, and came back after a minute or two with a dress of black satin and lace looped up with rosebuds of the darkest red. It was one newly arrived from Worth.