"Mary," said she, kindly, "is there anything the matter ?" No reply.
"Are you unwell ?" "No." "Are you in trouble ?" "Ay!" with a burst of tears.
Lady Bassett let her cry, thinking it would relieve her, and then spoke to her again with the languid pensiveness of a woman who has also her trouble.

"You have been very attentive to Sir Charles, and a kind good servant to me, Mary." "You are mocking me, my lady," said Mary, bitterly.

"You wouldn't have turned me off for a word if I had been a good servant." Lady Bassett colored high, and was silenced for a moment.

At last she said, "I feel it must seem harsh to you.

You don't know how wicked it was to tempt me.