Benson, who ever he is, proposes?"
"Me! no, indeed, ma'am," said the maid, drawing herself up, stiff
in her virtue.
"I'm sure, ma'am, you: would not expect it of me; I could never
have the face to dress a lady of character again."
"Well, well! don't be alarmed; I cannot spare you: by the way,
just attend to the strings on my dress; the chambermaid here
pulled them into knots, and broke them terribly, last night. It
is awkward, though, very," said she, relapsing into a musing fit
over the condition of Ruth.
"If you'll allow me, ma'am, I think I might say some thing that
would alter the case. I believe, ma'am, you put a bank-note into
the letter to the young woman yesterday?"
Mrs. Bellingham bowed acquiescence, and the maid went on--
"Because, ma'am, when the little deformed man wrote that note
(he's Mr. Benson, ma'am), I have reason to believe neither he nor
Mrs. Morgan knew of any provision being made for the young woman.
Me and the chambermaid found your letter and the bank-note lying
quite promiscuous, like waste paper, on the floor of her room;
for I believe she rushed out like mad after you left."
"That, as you say, alters the case. This letter, then, is
principally a sort of delicate hint that some provision ought to
have been made; which is true enough, only it has been attended
to already. What became of the money?"
"Law, ma'am! do you ask? Of course, as soon as I saw it, I picked
it up and took it to Mrs.
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