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he question： it remained in her thoughts for some time after he had gone。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
On the same day Emily was at Brighton。
Francine happened to be alone in the drawing…room。 Her first proceeding； when Emily was shown in； was to stop the servant。
〃Have you taken my letter to the post？〃
〃Yes； miss。〃
〃It doesn't matter。〃 She dismissed the servant by a gesture； and burst into such effusive hospitality that she actually insisted on kissing Emily。 〃Do you know what I have been doing？〃 she said。 〃I have been writing to Ceciliadirecting to the care of her father； at the House of Commons。 I stupidly forgot that you would be able to give me the right address in Switzerland。 You don't object； I hope； to my making myself agreeable to our dear； beautiful； greedy girl？ It is of such importance to me to surround myself with influential friendsand； of course； I have given her your love。 Don't look disgusted！ Come； and see your room。Oh； never mind Miss Ladd。 You will see her when she wakes。 Ill？ Is that sort of old woman ever ill？ She's only taking her nap after bathing。 Bathing in the sea； at her age！ How she must frighten the fishes！〃
Having seen her own bed…chamber； Emily was next introduced to the room occupied by Francine。
One object that she noticed in it caused her some little surprisenot unmingled with disgust。 She discovered on the toilet…table a coarsely caricatured portrait of Mrs。 Ellmother。 It was a sketch in pencilwretchedly drawn； but spitefully successful as a likeness。 〃I didn't know you were an artist；〃 Emily remarked； with an ironical emphasis on the last word。 Francine laughed scornfullycrumpled the drawing up in her handand threw it into the waste…paper basket。
〃You satirical creature！〃 she burst out gayly。 〃If you had lived a dull life at St。 Domingo； you would have taken to spoiling paper too。 I might really have turned out an artist； if I had been clever and industrious like you。 As it was； I learned a little drawingand got tired of it。 I tried modeling in waxand got tired of it。 Who do you think was my teacher？ One of our slaves。〃
〃A slave！〃 Emily exclaimed。
〃Yesa mulatto； if you wish me to be particular； the daughter of an English father and a negro mother。 In her young time （at least she said so herself） she was quite a beauty； in her particular style。 Her master's favorite； he educated her himself。 Besides drawing and painting； and modeling in wax； she could sing and playall the accomplishments thrown away on a slave！ When her owner died； my uncle bought her at the sale of the property。〃
A word of natural compassion escaped Emilyto Francine's surprise。
〃Oh； my dear； you needn't pity her！ Sappho （that was her name） fetched a high price； even when she was no longer young。 She came to us； by inheritance； with the estates and the rest of it； and took a fancy to me； when she found out I didn't get on well with my father and mother。 'I owe it to _my_ father and mother；' she used to say； 'that I am a slave。 When I see affectionate daughters； it wrings my heart。' Sappho was a strange compound。 A woman with a white side to her character； and a black side。 For weeks together； she would be a civilized being。 Then she used to relapse； and become as complete a negress as her mother。 At the risk of her life she stole away； on those occasions； into the interior of the island； and looked on； in hiding； at the horrid witchcrafts and idolatries of the blacks； they would have murdered a half…blood； prying into their ceremonies； if they had discovered her。 I followed her once； so far as I dared。 The frightful yellings and drummings in the darkness of the forests frightened me。 The blacks suspected her； and it came to my ears。 I gave her the warning that saved her life （I don't know what I should have done without Sappho to amuse me！）； and； from that time； I do believe the curious creature loved me。 You see I can speak generously even of a slave！〃
〃I wonder you didn't bring her with you to England；〃 Emily said。
〃In the first place；〃 Francine answered； 〃she was my father's property； not mine。 In the second place； she's dead。 Poisoned； as the other half…bloods supposed； by some enemy among the blacks。 She said herself； she was under a spell！〃
〃What did she mean？〃
Francine was not interested enough in the subject to explain。 〃Stupid superstition； my dear。 The negro side of Sappho was uppermost when she was dyingthere is the explanation。 Be off with you！ I hear the old woman on the stairs。 Meet her before she can come in here。 My bedroom is my only refuge from Miss Ladd。〃
On the morning of the last day in the week； Emily had a little talk in private with her old schoolmistress。 Miss Ladd listened to what she had to say of Mrs。 Ellmother； and did her best to relieve Emily's anxieties。 〃I think you are mistaken； my child； in supposing that Francine is in earnest。 It is her great fault that she is hardly ever in earnest。 You can trust to my discretion； leave the rest to your aunt's old servant and to me。〃
Mrs。 Ellmother arrived； punctual to the appointed time。 She was shown into Miss Ladd's own room。 Francineostentatiously resolved to take no personal part in the affairwent for a walk。 Emily waited to hear the result。
After a long interval； Miss Ladd returned to the drawing…room； and announced that she had sanctioned the engagement of Mrs。 Ellmother。
〃I have considered your wishes； in this respect；〃 she said。 〃It is arranged that a week's notice； on either side； shall end the term of service； after the first month。 I cannot feel justified in doing more than that。 Mrs。 Ellmother is such a respectable woman； she is so well known to you； and she was so long in your aunt's service； that I am bound to consider the importance of securing a person who is exactly fitted to attend on such a girl as Francine。 In one word； I can trust Mrs。 Ellmother。〃
〃When does she enter on her service？〃 Emily inquired。
〃On the day after we return to the school；〃 Miss Ladd replied。 〃You will be glad to see her； I am sure。 I will send her here。〃
〃One word more before you go；〃 Emily said。
〃Did you ask her why she left my aunt？〃
〃My dear child； a woman who has been five…and…twenty years in one place is entitled to keep her own secrets。 I understand that she had her reasons； and that she doesn't think it necessary to mention them to anybody。 Never trust people by halvesespecially when they are people like Mrs。 Ellmother。〃
It was too late now to raise any objections。 Emily felt relieved； rather than disappointed； on discovering that Mrs。 Ellmother was in a hurry to get back to London by the next train。 Sh e had found an opportunity of letting her lodgings； and she was eager to conclude the bargain。 〃You see I couldn't say Yes；〃 she explained； 〃till I knew whether I was to get this new place or notand the person wants to go in tonight。〃
Emily stopped her at the door。 〃Promise to write and tell me how you get on with Miss de Sor。〃
〃You say that； miss； as if you didn't feel hopeful about me。〃
〃I say it； because I feel interested about you。 Promise to write。〃
Mrs。 Ellmother promised； and hastened away。 Emily looked after her from the window； as l