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Emily introduced Mrs。 Ellmother to Francine。 〃It may be worth your while；〃 she hinted； 〃to hear what this young lady has to say。〃
Mrs。 Ellmother listened； with little appearance of interest in anything that a stranger might have to say： her eyes rested on the card which contained her written request to Emily。 Francine； watching her closely； understood what was passing in her mind。 It might be worth while to conciliate the old woman by a little act of attention。 Turning to Emily； Francine pointed to the card lying on the table。 〃You have not attended yet to Mr。 Ellmother's request；〃 she said。
Emily at once assured Mrs。 Ellmother that the request was granted。 〃But is it wise；〃 she asked； 〃to go out to service again； at your age？〃
〃I have been used to service all my life； Miss Emilythat's one reason。 And service may help me to get rid of my own thoughtsthat's another。 If you can find me a situation somewhere； you will be doing me a good turn。〃
〃Is it useless to suggest that you might come back； and live with me？〃 Emily ventured to say。
Mrs。 Ellmother's head sank on her breast。 〃Thank you kindly； miss； it _is_ useless。〃
〃Why is it useless？〃 Francine asked。
Mrs。 Ellmother was silent。
〃Miss de Sor is speaking to you；〃 Emily reminded her。
〃Am I to answer Miss de Sor？〃
Attentively observing what passed； and placing her own construction on looks and tones； it suddenly struck Francine that Emily herself might be in Mrs。 Ellmother's confidence； and that she might have reasons of her own for assuming ignorance when awkward questions were asked。 For the moment at least； Francine decided on keeping her suspicions to herself。
〃I may perhaps offer you the employment you want；〃 she said to Mrs。 Ellmother。 〃I am staying at Brighton； for the present； with the lady who was Miss Emily's schoolmistress； and I am in need of a maid。 Would you be willing to consider it； if I proposed to engage you？〃
〃Yes； miss。〃
〃In that case； you can hardly object to the customary inquiry。 Why did you leave your last place？〃
Mrs。 Ellmother appealed to Emily。 〃Did you tell this young lady how long I remained in my last place？〃
Melancholy remembrances had been revived in Emily by the turn which the talk had now taken。 Francine's cat…like patience； stealthily feeling its way to its end； jarred on her nerves。 〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃in justice to you； I have mentioned your long term of service。〃
M rs。 Ellmother addressed Francine。 〃You know； miss； that I served my late mistress for over twenty…five years。 Will you please remember thatand let it be a reason for not asking me why I left my place。〃
Francine smiled compassionately。 〃My good creature； you have mentioned the very reason why I _should_ ask。 You live five…and…twenty years with your mistressand then suddenly leave herand you expect me to pass over this extraordinary proceeding without inquiry。 Take a little time to think。〃
〃I want no time to think。 What I had in my mind； when I left Miss Letitia； is something which I refuse to explain； miss； to you； or to anybody。〃
She recovered some of her old firmness； when she made that reply。 Francine saw the necessity of yieldingfor the time at least； Emily remained silent； oppressed by remembrance of the doubts and fears which had darkened the last miserable days of her aunt's illness。 She began already to regret having made Francine and Mrs。 Ellmother known to each other。
〃I won't dwell on what appears to be a painful subject； 〃Francine graciously resumed。 〃I meant no offense。 You are not angry； I hope？〃
〃Sorry； miss。 I might have been angry； at one time。 That time is over。〃
It was said sadly and resignedly： Emily heard the answer。 Her heart ached as she looked at the old servant； and thought of the contrast between past and present。 With what a hearty welcome this broken woman had been used to receive her in the bygone holiday…time！ Her eyes moistened。 She felt the merciless persistency of Francine； as if it had been an insult offered to herself。 〃Give it up！〃 she said sharply。
〃Leave me； my dear； to manage my own business；〃 Francine replied。 〃About your qualifications？〃 she continued； turning coolly to Mrs。 Ellmother。 〃Can you dress hair？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I ought to tell you；〃 Francine insisted； 〃that I am very particular about my hair。〃
〃My mistress was very particular about her hair；〃 Mrs。 Ellmother answered。
〃Are you a good needlewoman？〃
〃As good as ever I waswith the help of my spectacles。〃
Francine turned to Emily。 〃See how well we get on together。 We are beginning to understand each other already。 I am an odd creature； Mrs。 Ellmother。 Sometimes； I take sudden likings to personsI have taken a liking to you。 Do you begin to think a little better of me than you did？ I hope you will produce the right impression on Miss Ladd； you shall have every assistance that I can give。 I will beg Miss Ladd； as a favor to me； not to ask you that one forbidden question。〃
Poor Mrs。 Ellmother； puzzled by the sudden appearance of Francine in the character of an eccentric young lady； the creature of genial impulse； thought it right to express her gratitude for the promised interference in her favor。 〃That's kind of you； miss；〃 she said。
〃No； no； only just。 I ought to tell you there's one thing Miss Ladd is strict aboutsweethearts。 Are you quite sure；〃 Francine inquired jocosely； 〃that you can answer for yourself； in that particular？〃
This effort of humor produced its intended effect。 Mrs。 Ellmother； thrown off her guard； actually smiled。 〃Lord； miss； what will you say next！〃
〃My good soul； I will say something next that is more to the purpose。 If Miss Ladd asks me why you have so unaccountably refused to be a servant again in this house； I shall take care to say that it is certainly not out of dislike to Miss Emily。〃
〃You need say nothing of the sort；〃 Emily quietly remarked。
〃And still less；〃 Francine proceeded； without noticing the interruption〃still less through any disagreeable remembrances of Miss Emily's aunt。〃
Mrs。 Ellmother saw the trap that had been set for her。 〃It won't do； miss；〃 she said。
〃What won't do？〃
〃Trying to pump me。〃
Francine burst out laughing。 Emily noticed an artificial ring in her gayety which suggested that she was exasperated； rather than amused； by the repulse which had baffled her curiosity once more。
Mrs。 Ellmother reminded the merry young lady that the proposed arrangement between them had not been concluded yet。 〃Am I to understand； miss； that you will keep a place open for me in your service？〃
〃You are to understand；〃 Francine replied sharply； 〃that I must have Miss Ladd's approval before I can engage you。 Suppose you come to Brighton？ I will pay your fare； of course。〃
〃Never mind my fare； miss。 Will you give up pumping？〃
〃Make your mind easy。 It's quite useless to attempt pumping _you_。 When will you come？〃
Mrs。 Ellmother pleaded for a little delay。 〃I'm altering my gowns；〃 she said。 〃I get thinner and thinnerdon't I； Miss Emily？ My work won't be done before Thursday。〃
〃Let us say Friday； then；〃 Francine proposed。
〃Friday！〃 Mrs。 Ellmother exclaimed。 〃You forget that Friday is an unlucky day。〃
〃I forgot that； certainly！ How can yo