The servant lifted up both hands with something like terror, when she uttered this word, and looked over her shoulder to make certain that no one was listening.
“Come in,” she said, in a whisper; “but not one word about the hospital; I should lose my place if it were known that I had ever been a nurse there.”
“Is the lady as particular as that?” answered Jane, sinking her voice and slipping inside the door. “Well, well, never fear, I know how to keep a close mouth, you know that of old.”
“Yes, yes, I know,—step in here,—you have come at a fortunate time; two of the girls are up-stairs, and the men are all so busy that we can have the parlor here almost to ourselves.”
Jane slipped through the door opened for her, and found herself in a room that struck her as sumptuous.
“Won’t the lady come down and catch us in her parlor?” she asked a little anxiously.
Ellen laughed, and throwing herself on a sofa, made room for Jane by her side.
“She come here! Why, this is the servants’ parlor, Jane Kelly; we have nice times here, I tell you, especially when she is away at the watering-places;—not that we stay here much, why should we when the drawing-room is more convenient,—such balls and parties as we have! such wine! to say nothing of——, well, no matter. Tell me what brought you here, of all places in the world?”
“No, tell me more about your way of living. It must be sumptuous; I should like it.”
“Like it! of course you would; double the wages you get, and half the work.”