"Well, Flora," said her new mistress, "have you ever been in service before?"
"No, ma'am, if you please," replied she, "unless in the old Saint Columbkil."
"The old Saint Columbkil," rejoined Mary. "What is that, my good girl?"
The ignorance implied in this question was so incredibly absurd, that spite of all her fears and all her modesty, the girl smiled, and looked down upon the floor, and then coloured to the eyes at her own presumption.
"It's the great wine-tavern and eating-house, ma'am, in Ship Street, if you please," rejoined she.
"And who hired you?" inquired Mary, in undisguised surprise.
"It was Mr. Chancey, ma'am—the lawyer gentleman, please your ladyship," answered she.
"Mr. Chancey!—I never heard of him before," said the young lady, more and more astonished. "Have you seen Sir Henry—my brother?"
"Oh! yes, my lady, if you please—I saw him and the other gentleman just before I came upstairs, ma'am," replied the maid.
"What other gentleman?" inquired Mary, faintly.