Morris. As usual, she had confidential
communications to make, and particularly wished the advice of Mrs.
Freeman in a matter which she declared weighed heavily upon her
mind; and being assured that they should be undisturbed, began at
once to impart the weighty secret.
"You remember Mrs. Dawson, who went with her husband to Europe, a
year or two ago?"
"Certainly I do," was the reply. "I was well acquainted with her."
"Do you recollect a girl who had lived with her for several years? I
think her name was Mary Berkly."
"Quite well. Mrs. Dawson placed great confidence in her, and wished
to take her abroad, but Mary was engaged to an honest carpenter, in
good business, and wisely preferred a comfortable house in her own
country."
"She had other reasons, I suspect," replied Mrs. Morris,
mysteriously, "but you will hear. This Mary Berkly, or as she is now
called, Mary White, lives not far from my present residence. Her
husband is comfortably off, and his wife is not obliged to work,
excepting in her own family, but still she will occasionally, as a
favour, do up a few muslins for particular persons. You know she was
famous for her skill in those things. The other day, having a few
pieces which I was particularly anxious to have look nice, I called
upon her to see if she would wash them for me.
Pages:
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281