The married daughter asked: "You have been a nurse, you say? But not here?"
"Not here," said Mary, "no. Of course, that doesn't detract from——"
"Oh, quite so. We've had several young women here already to-day. Do I understand you to mean there is nobody at all you can give as a reference?"
"Yes, that unfortunately is so. I do hope you don't consider it an insuperable difficulty? You know you take servants without 'characters' sometimes when——"
"I never take a servant without a 'character.' I have never done such a thing in my life."
"I did not mean you personally," said Mary, with hasty deprecation; "I was speaking——"
"I'm most particular on the point; my mother is most particular, too."
"Generally speaking. I meant people do take servants without 'characters' occasionally when they are hard pushed."
"Our own servants are only too wishful to remain with us. My mother has had her present cook eight years, and the last one was only induced to leave because a young man—a young man in quite a fair way of business—made her an offer of marriage. She had been here even longer than eight years—twelve I think it was, or thirteen. It was believed at the time that what first attracted the young man's attention to her was the many years that my mother had retained her in our household. I'm sure there are no circumstances under which my mother 'd consent to receive a young person who could give no proof of her trustworthiness and good conduct."
"Do you mean that you can't engage me? It—it's a matter of life and death to me," exclaimed Mary; "pray let me see the lady!"