Girl from Madeira.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1035, 25 May 1894, Page 7

Girl from Madeira.

♦ In Four Chapters.

By P. L. M'Dermott.

CHAPTER ll— .Continued. Ethel Flint got pen, ink, and paper, and the old lady dictated to her the following epistlo ; 1 Torquay, June Ist. * My Dear Niece — I have received your letter. As we seem to be mutually desirous of amity and reconciliation, I have decided to travel to your place on Monday next, my time being now very limited. I shall not take my maid with me, as she is going back to her dear father, and you will therefore have to send to meet me at the railway station. My business affairs are all settled, and there remains only the funeral arrangements to discuss, which can be done after I arrive, In reply to your anxious inquiry, I beg to to say that, for an invalid, J am fairly well, and will probably continue to go until something gives way, which will be very soon. I shall be glad to see a leg of mutton, well cooked, for dinner when I arrive. — Your recon oiled relative, Rebecca Roscoe.' When the girl finished this singular letter, and read it over to her mistress, the latter watched her attentively for the space of a minute or two. Of course it was the reference to her own i discharge which was most in Ethel ] Flint's mind. She had had no reason ! to expect this. Nor was the propect of returning to that parent to whom Mrs Roscoe had cynically referred as ' her dear father,' in any way pleasant. 1 Flint, you look grieved. But you are surely not sorry to part from meV For answer, the girl did not speak, but burst into tears. The old lady's astonishment was great, and she waited, without saying a word, to hear what the giri had to say. But Ethel Flint said nothing at all, but sealed the letter and took it out to post. Had she spoken of her sorrow for half-an-hour, she could not have made such an impression on Mrs Roscoe. 1 Flint,' she said presently, • you have been attentive and obedient, and have never given me any trouble. When I reach those people, I will get one of them to copy out a testimonial, which I will sign and send to you. And for the little space 1 have now to live — - pray, remember it will be a very short time — Mr Hooley, my lawyer in London, will pay you 30s a week. You can live on that, if you do not choose to live with your father. And — well, I think I wronged you in reference to that young man, and you are well rid of him. I might have thought better of him if h« hadn't been so manifestly taken aback at discovering that you were my maid. I wonder what may he be !' she added with a touch of scorn. Next day, while the girl was packing up her mistress's belongings, the latter inquired if she were going back to her father. ' Yes,' was the answer. 'Of course I have no one else to go to.' 1 How much money have you saved !' The girl reddened and mads no reply. ' I see how it is — I knew it all along. I should not have let you have your salary. But in that case the scoundrel would have had it in a lump. He will not be very glad to see you come back without money, Flint. Dppend upon it, he will have no memory for what you have already given him. I should advise you, Flint, not to tell him you are leaving me, but to hire a decent lodging for yourself, and live on your weekly allowance till you get another 'place. Hooley shall look after you for me.' The girl felt that the advice was good, but, unfortunately, it was too late. She had already written to her father that she was coining back. Mrs Roscoe groaned, and let the subject drop. On Monday, therefore, Ethel Flint accompanied her mistress to the station for the last time, and made her comfortable for the journey, as no one could do so well as she. Mrs Roscoe i kissed her, and put something in her \ hand. The train started, and the girl was alone. • For your own use. Take .care of it' These words were written on the envelope, which contained two LlO j notes. The meaning of the injunction was obvious, and Ethel Flint wisely j resolved to obey it. j