"Are you ill! You had better let me give you some medicine," said Harriet, looking for the key of her medicine chest.
"Perhaps, Miss Conway, did not know that Mr. Gage was going to leave Singleton Manor."
Harriet turned pale. No she did not know it. "When was he going?"
Charlotte knew nothing about Mr. Gage; she only knew that his horses were to set off for Chirke Weston the day after to-morrow.
"But you are hardly crying after Mr. Gage's horses," said Harriet, making a desperate effort to rally her spirits.
"Mr. Thompson!" sobbed the damsel.
"Oh! he is the objection—what have you to say against Mr. Thompson? Mr. Gage's groom, I conclude."
Mr. Thompson had made Charlotte an offer; very respectful, and very devoted, Charlotte said he was. She confessed that Mr. Thompson was not indifferent to her, but he was so much in awe of his master, that he could not muster up courage to confess his weakness.
"But why does he not give Mr. Gage warning?" asked Harriet.
"Because," Charlotte said, "Mr. Thompson had a very good salary; (Charlotte was always genteel in her language; she never hinted at wages,) and it might be a very long time before he got such another situation, and he could less afford to lose it, if he had a wife to support."