"as Companion To A Lady."

"I'm very sorry, miss, but I'm onlv a )oor woman rayself, and, if you dön't pay tlie rent of this room, I don't see as you can aíford the rent of the one up stairs." Here the iandlady rubbed her nose viciousiy upon her apron, and stared straight out of the yery dirty window. As this was evidently a challenge to me to reply, I said, as íirnily as I could, a few words which brought out the I son for the woman's visit that morning. " Am I to UDderstand, then, that you wish me to leave?'' "If you please, miss, at the end of the week, for there's the gent on the first floor would like to have this bedroom." " Very well, Mrs. Ruddock, I said; I will find a room elsewhere." " Thanky, miss," she said, sharply; and giving her nose another vicious rub, she left me to my thoughts - and iny tears. For I was weak, faint and heartsick, and the coins in my purse had dwindied down, so that if I did not succeed in obtaining an engagement in a very few days I had no resource but to creep back to the country and avow my failure. Just three months since, and we were all so happy in the little country vicarage; and then, in visiting one of his people, my poor father caught a dangerous fever, while in tending him my dear mother was stricken with the same compiaint, and ere three weeks had passed Minna and I sat in the little study alone, in deep black; for the struggle had been brief, and those we loved lay together in the green churchyard, and we were only intruders now in the little vicarage that had been our home. We were nearly pcjmiless, too, but a brother clergyman of my father's, quite as poor, came forward and offered us a temporary home lili, as he said, some opening shonld occur for us. I gladly accepted it for Minna; but for myself, I was determined to try great London, and, unaided, battle for myself. In two years John Muriay was to come back frm Australia to fetch me for his wife, and till then I would be independent. So the day came at last when, with many tears, we two girls had to separate, and' with aching heart I left the ald Lincolnshire home, and reachcd the great dreary void of London early one afternoon. I was not long in getting a place where I could stay, in the shape of a second floor front room in one of those heartaching streets near the Foundling - st reets that echo i'rom morning to night with mournful cries uttered by venders whose goocis it is impossible to surmise, and with the dismal echoing tones of the various oz'gans. So painful were these last to me, that often of an evening, when I have retumed from a weary, disheartening searh for an engagement, and sat alone and hungry, fearing to spend my money in anything beyond the tea and bread and butter upon which I existid, those doleful strains - cheering, maybe, to some - have had such an effect upon me that I have sat and sobbed till, utterly worn out, I haye fallen asleep, to wake, perhaps, hours after, to find it veiy late, and crawl shivering off to bed. As the weeks passed on and my advertisements and fees paid to the various registry offices had been without effect, I used to crawl back to my room, growing more and more disheartened. I was always a "plain, sallow-looking girl, and now in my fast-wearing black I began to feel that I was day by day growing more snabby and weary-lookiDg, and that my feeble chances oí obtaiuing a post were growing less and less. I used to sit and ask myself whether I had tri cd hard - and I knew I had- but it wss alwa-ys the same. Whether I advertised for a situation as governess, or went from a registry office to offer myself as companion to a lady, it was always the same. I noticed a look of disappointment as soon as I entered the room, for I was neither pretty nor looking, and my mournful black helpcd to sadden my aspect. It was always the same - the lady did not think I should suit her, and in blank disappointmeut I had to return. And now it had come tothis - that my landlady had grown as tired of me as the people at the registry offices, whcoe I bod more than once beeu told rudely thai 1 was not likely to get .1 place as governess or compnuion, but had better look lower. That aiternoon, evidently Buspicioup of my ability to pay, and haps disgusted with my miserable way of living, and afraid I should be left an invalid apon her hands, shehad - rudely, it seemed to me - requested me to leave. In my present circumstances I was utterly prostrated by the news, for I dared not take lodgings elf ewhere; and T could see nothing now but to sell a portion of my ssanty wardrobe and go back to beg for assistance frcm my f ather's friend. What a change ! and how soon had my hopea of independent action been blighted ! I wa heartsore as I feit how that in that great city there was wealth being squandered in luxury around me while I was literally starving; for my poor living was telling upon me fast. What should I do ? What should I do ? It was with weary iteration I had said those words and wept till tears carne no more, and a dull, stolid feeling of despair had come tipon me. I had almost shrunk away in the streets from the bright-faced, happy girls I passed, and at times I found nrvself asking what had been my gin that I should be thus punished, I lay awake that night for many hours, watching the light from the stréet lamp playing upon my ceiling; and at last, towards morning, the remembracce of words I Lad often heard carne to me with a calm sense of repose, trust and restfulness, and I believe I feil asleep at last with a smile upon my lips, repeating a portion oí that comf orting sentence ending, " Are ye nofc much better than they ?" It was a bright, sunshiny morning when I awoke, to hear some one knocking at my door, and, hurrying on a few things, I answered. "Ah ! I was just figoing to take 'em down again," said my landlady harshly. ' ' Some folks can afford to lay'in bed all day ; I can 't. Here's two letters for you. And mind this, Miss Laurie; I never bargained to come tramping up to the top of the house with letters and messages for you." " I'm very much obliged, Mrs. Kuddock," I said gently, as I took the letters with trembling hands, while, muttering and complaining, their bearer went down stairs. It seemed very hard then, but I believe it was the woman's habit, and that she was not bad at heart, 1 but warped and cankered by poverty, hard work, and ill-usage from a drunken husband, whom she entirely kept. One letter I saw at a glance was from Minna, the other was in a strange, crabbed hand, and I longed to read them, but exercising my eelf-demal, I dressed, lit my ñre, and prepared my very frugal breakfast bef ore sitting down and devouring Minna's news. What right had I to murmur as I did last night, I asked myself, when she was evidently so happy and contented 1 and then I opened, with fluttering hand, the other letter, and was puzzled by it at first; but at last I reoalled the fact that three weeks before I had answsred an advertisernent in the ymes where a lady wanted a oompanion, The note was very brief and curt, and ran as follows: ' ' If Miss Laurie is not engaged she can cali upon Mrs. Langton Porter, 47 Morton street, Park Village South, at 11 o'clock to-morrow (Thursday)." "At last!" I said to myself joyfully, and with beating heart I prepared myself for my journey, for the appointment was for that morning. Just as I had pretty well timed myself for my walk a sudden squall carne on, the sky was darkened, snow feil heavily, and in the place of a morning in spring we seemed to have gone back into winter, for the snow lay thickly in a very short time, and the branches of the trees in the squares were whitened. Weak as I was this disheartened me, but I f ought my way bravely on, and just at 11 rang timidly at the door of an important-looking house, and was superciliously'shown, by a stout, tall footman in drab livery, into a handsomely furnished room. Every thing in the place I noticed was rich and good; heavy curtainshung by window and door, skins and Eastern rugs lay on the polished wood floor, and a tremendous fire blazed in a great brass fireplace, and the flames danced and were refleoted from the encaustic tiles with which it was surrounded. 'Til take your note in," said the footman, as I handed it. "You can sit down." I prefeired to stand, and, as soon as I was alone, I shivered with fear and cold, as I caught a glimpse of my pale, sallow face in the great mirror. Every moment I expected to see the owner of the place, but I remained standing wearily for an hour, and then I sighed and turned wistfully to look at the door, wondering whether the footman had taken in the note which I had given him as my passport. I started, for close behind ine, having entered unheard, was a rather plump, tall lady in black. She was dressed as if for going out, and well wrapped in furs. "Oh! you are waiting," she said, harshly, and a shade of displeasure crossed her face as she looked full at me till rny eyes dropped. "There, Miss- Miss - Miss - " " Laurie," 1 suggested. "Yes, yes; I know," she said, sharply; " it is in my note. Pray, why in the name of common sense did you not sit down ? Take that chair. Now, then, have you ever been companion to a lady before?" "No, ma'am," I replied; and then, in answer to her questions, all very sharply given, I told her as much as was necessary of my story. "I don't think you will Buit me," she said; " l've had misery enough, and I want some oue cheerful and pleasant, a lady whom I can trust and who will be a pleasant oompanion. There, I'm sure there is not suoh a body in London, for the way l've been imposed upon is dreadful ! I'vo had six in six months, and the nurnber of applications I have had nearly drove me out of my senses. I'vo had ene since you wrote me - a crefiture whoso solé idea was herself. I want one who will make me her first consideration. I don't mind what I pay, but I want some one tall and ladylike; and you are not pretty, you know." I shook my head sadly. "Humph! Well," she went on, "you won't be so giddy and be always thinking of getting married. There, you need not blush like that; it's what all the companions I huvo had fleem to tbink about. You don't I suppose 1" "lam eDgaged to be marriei?," I said, hangiug down my head, "in a couple of years." ■ " Ho ! Well, he mnStn't come here, for I'm a very selfish, pragmatical old woman; and if I engaged yon - which I don't think I shall do- I should want you all to myself. What is he ?" " A sottler - abroad," I faltered. " Ho ! That's better; and perh.ips he'il settle there altogether without you," I looked at her indignantly and alie laughed. "Ah! I know, my good girl. ] baven't lived to eight-and-forty fornothing. How oíd areyou ?" " Twenty," I said, shivering, for her rongh way repelle d rae, and I longed to bring the interview to an end. " Why, the girl's cold," she said. roughly. " H'm, twenty I Here, go up to the fire, and have a good warm; its's dreadful weather. There, pull off your bonnet and jacket. Put them on that chair, and go closerto the fire; l've a deal to say to you yet, for I'm not going to engage any young person and have to change directly." I obeyed her, trembling the while, for I was very weak; and she went on asking me questions and making oomnwnts. " I don 't like your appearance at all; you look pale and unhealthy. Not a bit like a girl from the country." " I am very sorry," I said; " but, indeed, ma'am, I have excellent health." "Then your face tells stories about you. You play, of course ?" "Yes, ma'am." " You're warm now. Go and play something. Oan you sing ?" " Yes, ma'am." "Then sing, too; and look here, Miss - Miss- Miss - " "I was about to teil her my name, but, remembering the last rebuff, I was silent. "Now, look here, my good young lady, how am I to remember your dreadful name? Whatisit?" "Liurie, ma'am," I replied. " Of course it is; I remember it quite well. Now go and play and sing something, and mind, I don't want my ears deafened with fireworks, and the drums split with parrot-shriek bravuras. Sing something sweet and simple and oldfashioned, if you can," she added, ungraeiously. I crossed the room and sat down to the magnificent piano, and for the next flve minutes I seemed to be far away, down in the old home, as I forgot where I was, in singing my poor dead fathei's favorite old bailad, "Bobin Adair;" while, as I finished, I had hard work to keep back the tears. "Eo - bin A - dair," sbe sang, as I rose, in a not unpleasing voice. " Now let me hear you read. I always make my companion read to me a great deal; and mind this, I hate to hear any drone like a school-girl. Go over there into the corner of the window and stend there. Take that book; you'll find the mark left in where Miss Belleville - bah ! I believe her name was Stubbs and her father a grocer - left off. Now, then, begin." She pushed a lomige-chair close up to tho window and sat down with her hands in her muff, while I stood there, feeling like a school-girl and ready to drone, as I began to read with faltering voice what happeaed to be Thackeray's most beautiful chapter - the death of poor old Ooi. Newcombe. I know my voice trembled at times, and a strange sense of choking carne upon me as I went on battlicg, oh, so hard to read those piteous, heart-stirring lines ! but I was weak and Bufiering, I was faint with hunger and exertion, sick with that despair of hope deferred, and at last the room, with its costly furniture, seemed to Bwim round before me, a cold perspiration bathed my face, and, with a weary sigh, I caught feebly at the curtains and then feil heavily upon the polished floor. I have some faint memory of being lifted and wheeled in a chair whose castors 1 heard chirrup to the front of the fire, and then, at my eenses began to return, I seemed to feel arms round me and a pleasant voice saying, half aloud: "And she just lost her poor father, too - to set her to read such a thing as that ! I declare I'm about the wickedest, most thoughüess and unfeeling old woman under the sun." Then there was the refreshing odor of a vinaigrette, and the sick feeling began to pass away. "I - I beg pardon," I faltered, trying to rise. " I beg yours, my dear," she said, tenderly. "Sit still, sit still. Now, then, try and drink that." Some sherry was held to my lips and then I was almost forced to eat a biscuit, They, however, rapidly revived me, and I found Mrs. Potter had torn off her bonnet and mantle and was kneeling by my side. " That's better, my dear," she said, smiling at me, as she passed her arm round me and drew me nearer to her, and kissed me in a gentle, motherly way. And now this was too much, for I was weak and hysterical. I could fight against harshress, but her tender words and ways unlocked the flood-gates of my grief and I laid my head down and sobbed as if my heart would break. An hour later, after she nad literally forced me to partake of the breakfast that was ordered up, she sat beside me, holdiDg my hand, and more than once I saw the tears steal down her pleasant face as she won from me, bit by bit, the story of my troubles and my bitter struggles here in town. At last I rose to go, trembling and expectant. Would she engage me? It was more than I dared to hope. " Sit still, my child," she said, tenderly. " It has pleased God to make me - a childless, widowed woman - His steward over much wealth, and if I did not make this a home for one of His tempest- smitten lambs I should be a worsc woman than I think I am. SKy with me; we shall be the best of friends." I stayed - stayed to know her real worth and to win her motherly love - stayed to find; when John Murray returned, that his love was greater for my sister than for me, and patiently resigned my love to her, and then battled with a long illness, when they had gone together to their f ar-off home. But every day gave me a new lesson on not judging too hastily. That is ten years since ; and I am still in my peaceful, happy home, though only "as companion to a lady." - CasselVs Magazine.