Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/290

280 my hair, or myself, nurse?" said I, laughingly turning round upon her;—but a tear was even now in her eye.

"What do you mean, Rachel?" I exclaimed.

"Well, ma'am, I don't know,—but if—"

"If what?"

" Well, if I was you, I wouldn't have that Lady Lowborough in the house another minute—not another minute I wouldn't!"

I was thunderstruck; but before I could recover from the shock sufficiently to demand an explanation, Milicent entered my room—as she frequently does, when she is dressed before me; and she stayed with me till it was time to go down. She must have found me a very unsociable companion this time, for Rachel's last words rung in my ears. But still, I hoped—I trusted they had no foundation but in some idle rumour of the servants from what they had seen in Lady Lowborough's manner last month; or, perhaps, from something that had passed between their master and her during her