say I'd a good miss of being one of that sort, and that my young Lord
there opened my eyes in time. No better than the rest of 'em--'

And the clock striking eight, he quickened his pace to return to his
work. He had for the two or three previous years been nominally
under the gardener at Ormersfield, but really a sort of follower and
favourite to the young heir, Lord Fitzjocelyn--a position which had
brought on him dislike from the superior servants, who were not
propitiated by his independent and insubordinate temper. Faults on
every side had led to his dismissal; but Lord Fitzjocelyn had placed
him at an ironmonger's shop in the town of Northwold, where he had
been just long enough to become accessible to the various temptations
of a lad in such a situation.

Charlotte sped hastily round the end of the block of buildings,
hurried down the little back garden, and flew breathlessly into her
own kitchen, as a haven of refuge, but she found a tall, stiff
starched, elderly woman standing just within the door, and heard her
last words.

'Well! as I said, 'tis no concern of mine; only I thought it the part
of a friend to give you a warning, when I seen it with my own eyes!-
Ah! here she is!' as Charlotte dropped into a chair. 'Yes, yes,
Miss, you need not think to deceive me; I saw you from Miss Mercy's
window--'

'Saw what?' faintly exclaimed Charlotte.

'You know well enough,' was the return. 'You may think to blind Mrs.
Beckett here, but I know what over good-nature to young girls comes