patiently as possible for the following day.

Accustomed to move among the great, and to regard them with a certain
reverence that pervades the middle classes in England, she tried first
of all to prevent any village gossip about Edith, and so she endeavored,
by warning and by bribery, to induce the maid, the footman, and the
driver to say nothing about the scene at the gates. Another day, she
hoped, would make it all right, and idle gossip should, never be allowed
to meddle with the name of Edith in any way.

That evening Edith's note was brought to her. On receiving it she read
it hurriedly, and then went down to see who had brought it. She saw the
porter, who told her that he had come for Miss Dalton's baggage. The
porter treated her with an effort to be respectful, which appeared to
Miss Plympton to be a good omen. She offered him a piece of gold to
propitiate him still further, but, to her amazement, it was declined.

"Thank ye kindly, mum," said he, touching his hat, "an' hope it's no
offense; but we beant allowed to take nothin' savin' an' except what he
gives us hisself."

A moment's surprise was succeeded by the thought that even this was of
good omen, since it seemed to indicate a sort of rough, bluff, sterling
honesty, which could not co-exist with a nature that was altogether bad.

Returning to her room, she once more read Edith's note. Its tone
encouraged her greatly. It seemed to show that all her fears had been
vain, and that, whatever the character of Wiggins might be, there could
be no immediate danger to Edith. So great, indeed, was the encouragement
which she received from this note that she began to think her fears