"Oh, indeed," responded the attendant, "goodness forbid I should say or
think anything against him; but I could not help telling you my mind,
ma'am, meaning no harm."

"And, how long is it since you observed this sad change in poor Merton?"
persisted the lady.

"Not, indeed, to say very long, ma'am," replied the girl; "somewhere
about a week, or very little more--at least, as we remarked, ma'am."

Mrs. Marston pursued her inquiries no further that night. But, although
she affected to treat the matter thus lightly, it had, somehow, taken a
painful hold upon her imagination, and left in her mind those
undefinable and ominous sensations, which, in certain mental
temperaments, seem to foreshadow the approach of unknown misfortune.

For two or three days, everything went on smoothly, and pretty much as
usual. At the end of this brief interval, however, the attention of Mrs.
Marston was recalled to the subject of her servant's mysterious anxiety
to leave, and give up his situation. Merton again stood before her, and
repeated the intimation he had already given.

"Really, Merton, this is very odd," said the lady. "You like your
situation, and yet you persist in desiring to leave it. What am I
to think?"

"Oh, ma'am," said he, "I am unhappy; I am tormented, ma'am. I can't tell
you, ma'am; I can't indeed ma'am!"