vulgar violence, and that if she did not quit the house, he would.

This, however, had not the slightest effect. She would remain, though neither her brother nor Lady Gwynne would have any further communication with her.

Her fury was now directed to me and the rest of the servants. We concealed it as much as possible from Colonel D'Arcy, but Lady Gwynne's maid, who had witnessed one of Miss Stevenson's most outrageous bursts of passion, informed her mistress, who again took care to let her brother-in-law know the misery which this virago was causing to the whole household.

I ventured to ask her ladyship to beg the colonel to suffer me to leave the place, as I could be of no further use to him, but, on the contrary, fancied myself one of the innocent causes of his sister's continued violence.

I also told Lady Gwynne that I did not think myself old enough to manage so large an establishment, and that I would never have undertaken it, but that I could not

refuse the wish of my late kind mistress. Lady Gwynne quite agreed with me, saying that she thought it must be a miserable life for me, and that she would inform her brotherin-law of my wishes, and that she felt sure he was too reasonable to think me ungrateful for desiring to quit him.

She soon had an opportunity of communicating my wishes to Colonel D'Arcy, who sent for me into his library.

He began by regretting that he was obliged to part from one who had served his late wife and himself with so much fidelity and kindness, and owing, in great measure, he felt convinced, to the cruel attacks of his violent and ungovernable sister.

"I cannot ask you to remain," he said, "after the treatment you have received; but you are aware my beloved wife herself was not spared by my unhappy relative. Indeed," he added, "I feel much obliged by your continuing so long since my sad loss in a situation which must be very uncongenial to your temper and habits."

He then told me that it was his intention to let his town house as soon as Sir Howell and Lady Gwynne should be ready to start for Wales, whither he intended to accompany them, as the only way of shaking off the torment which clung to him in the shape of his outrageous half-sister.

He shook hands kindly with me at parting, and assured me I should always find a friend in him if I ever wanted one.

Only half a year's salary was due to me, but he placed fifty pounds in my hands, as a small return, he said, for the services I had rendered him. It was in vain that I remonstrated at this uncalled-for liberality; he insisted upon my keeping it, and once more kindly taking my hand, wished me every happiness.

Just at this moment the door burst open, and Miss Stevenson appeared, with her usually pale and sallow face in a perfect flame.

"So," said she, "I have caught you both at last making love together. Why, you young hypocritical wretch," addressing me,

"how dare you look me in the face! This is the reason, then, Colonel D'Arcy, that I am not thought worthy to keep your house. You are afraid that I should not suffer you to be locked up all day with this wanton young hussey. Housekeeper, indeed! I wonder you are not ashamed of yourself. Get out of the room, get out of the house, you wretch!" she added, addressing me, and giving me at the same time a not very gentle push.

She had said all this so rapidly and so violently, that her brother, who had faced every kind of danger in the field of battle, was for a time quite unable to contend with her. At length he raised his usual gentle voice to a loud tone, and after saying that he was grieved to act so to his mother's child, he announced his determination to leave his house that very day, shut it up, and dismiss his servants, to prevent her (who would persist in her vulgar annoyance of him) from remaining in it to distract and insult him.

Saying this, and seeing me safe out before him, or I do believe she would have beat me,

he hastened to the drawing-room, followed by the raving and abusive Miss Stevenson.

He there found Sir Howell and Lady Gwynne, whom he informed of all that had passed, and entreated that they would accompany him that very evening to some hotel, till he could get rid of his torment.

This they readily consented to do, and we all set to work packing, and before dark, every thing was ready for quitting the house.

Miss Stevenson, seeing all contention was now useless, and that if she remained, it must be in an empty house, took her departure, with threats that Colonel D'Arcy should never have a "farthing" of her money, of which she declared, she had "a good hunch."

If I had not heard and seen all this behaviour, I could never have believed it possible that any woman, much less one calling herself a gentlewoman, could have conducted herself as she did.

I have heard that her father was a low-born, passionate lawyer, and that her mother dying soon after she had given her birth, he and