Her manner was a little defiant at first, but when Louise drew her unobserved to the side entrance and up the staircase she grew gentle and permitted the other girl to take her arm.
Once in her room with the strange maid, Louise locked the door quietly and said to her companion with a cheerful smile: "Now we are quite alone, and can talk at our ease.

Take that low chair, dear, and I'll sit here." Eliza obeyed, looking wistfully into the fair face of her new friend.
"You are very pretty, Eliza; and I'm sure you are as good as you're pretty," announced Louise.

"So you must tell me about yourself, and whether you are happy here or not.

From this time on I'm going to be your friend, you know, and keep all your secrets; and I'll help you all I can." This rambling speech seemed to impress Eliza favorably.

She relaxed somewhat from the tense alertness that was habitual with her, and looked at the other girl with a softened expression.
"I'm afraid you won't be much interested in me," she replied, "but I need a friend--indeed I need a friend, Miss Louise!" "I'm sure you do." "At first I thought I could do without one.