"
"I see that now, sir; but I was so glad to be able to help the poor
creatures that I did not think of it till afterwards."
"I dare say your mother would have been glad of the money herself; I
understand she was not left very well off."
"At that time I did not know she was so poor. But now that my mistress
has paid me such good wages, I am going to take her every penny of them
this very afternoon."
"And then you will tell her, will you not?"
"I shall not mind telling her when you have taken it back. I was afraid
to tell her before! It was to pay you back that I asked Mrs. Macintosh
to take me for parlor-maid."
"Then you were not in service before?"
"No, sir. You see, my mother thought I could earn my bread in a way we
should both like better."
"So now you will give up service and go back to her?"
"I am not sure, sir. It would be long, I fear, before the school would
pay me as well. You see, I have my food here too. And everything tells.
Please, sir, take the pound."
"My dear girl," said her master, "I could not think of depriving you of
what you have so well earned. It is more than enough to me that you want
to repay it. I positively cannot take it."
"Indeed, I do want to repay it, sir," rejoined Annie. "It's anything but
willing I shall be _not_ to repay it. Indeed, there is no other way
to get my soul free."
Here it seems time I should mention that Hector, weary of waiting
Annie's return, had left the dining room to look for her; and running up
the stair, not without the dread of hearing his mother's foot behind
him, had slid softly into his father's room, to find Annie on her knees
before him, and hear enough to understand her story before either his
father or she was aware of his presence.
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