"
I obeyed the orders given to me except that relating to my
mistress. The doctor had been sent for, and was still in the
house. I consulted him upon the propriety of my delivering the
message. He positively forbade me to do so that night, and told
me to give him the slip of paper, and leave it to his discretion
to show it to her or not the next morning.
The messenger had hardly been gone an hour when Mr. Meeke's
housekeeper came to the Hall with a roll of music for my
mistress. I told the woman of my master's sudden departure, and
of the doctor being in the house. This news brought Mr. Meeke
himself to the Hall in a great flutter.
I felt so angry with him for being the cause--innocent as he
might be--of the shocking scene which had taken place, that I
exceeded the bounds of my duty, and told him the whole truth. The
poor, weak, wavering, childish creature flushed up red in the
face, then turned as pale as ashes, and dropped into one of the
hall chairs crying--literally crying fit to break his heart. "Oh,
William," says he, wringing his little frail, trembling white
hands as helpless as a baby, "oh, William, what am I to do?"
"As you ask me that question, sir," says I, "you will excuse me,
I hope, if, being a servant, I plainly speak my mind
notwithstanding.
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