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Updated: June 23, 2025
She perceived in the possession of her lady's secrets a high-road to the mastery of both. Thus it happened that, when she had very nearly arrived at the lobby where the boy was waiting, Jane Payland suddenly changed her mind, and darted off in another direction. She hurried along a narrow passage, up the servants' staircase, and into her own room.
"Yes," her mistress answered, absently; "it is a world-forgotten old place." "But the rest and change will, no doubt, be beneficial, ma'am," said Miss Payland, in her most insinuating tone; "and I am sure you must require change and fresh country air after being pent up in a London street."
Then the figure came forth into the broad moonlight; and that subdued, but clear radiance, revealed the pale, thin face of Jane Payland. When Jane Payland was brushing her mistress's hair that night, she ventured to sound her as to her future movements, by a few cautions and respectful questions, to which Lady Eversleigh replied with less than her usual reticence.
Jane Payland by no means approved of passing Christmas-day in the uninteresting seclusion of a country inn, with nothing more festive to look forward to than a specially ordered, but lonely dinner, and nothing to divert her thoughts but the rural spectacle afforded by the inn-yard.
The countryman went straight to the blue parlour, opened the door, and went in. The door closed behind him, and then Jane Payland heard the faint sound of voices within the apartment. It was evident that this countryman was Lady Eversleigh's expected guest. Jane's wonderment was redoubled by this extraordinary proceeding. "What does it all mean?" she asked herself.
But for all her grumbling, and all her suspicion, the girl was daily growing more and more attached to her mistress, and her respect was increasing with her liking. Lady Eversleigh returned to the inn alone late on that dismal Christmas-night, and she looked worn, troubled, and weary. After a few kind words to Jane Payland, she dismissed the girl, and went to bed, very tired and heart-sick.
To the surprise of Jane Payland, Lady Eversleigh started suddenly from her seat, and advanced towards her, awakened into sudden life and energy as by a spell. "Give me the letter," she cried, abruptly. She took the soiled and crumpled envelope from her servant's hand with a hasty gesture. "You may go," she said; "I will ring when I want you."
Jane Payland looked very searchingly at the pale, earnest face reflected in the glass. "For me, that which the world calls pleasure never possessed any powerful fascination," continued Honoria, gravely. "My childhood and youth were steeped in sorrow sorrow beyond anything you can imagine, Jane Payland; though I have heard you say that you have seen much trouble.
"If I were her, I would go to France, and be a great lady in Paris which is twenty times gayer and more delightful than any place in stupid, straight-laced old England," thought Jane Payland. "If I had her money, I would spend it, and enjoy life, in spite of all the world."
"He says to me, he says, 'If her ladyship once sets eyes upon that letter, she'll arnswer it fast enough; and now you cut and run, he says; 'it's a matter of life and death, it is, and it won't do to waste time over it." These words were rather startling to the mind of Jane Payland. What was she to do?
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