“Phebe, if they send you away I shall go with you. I will not be parted from the only friend that is left to me,” she exclaimed.
Phebe stroked the pretty, dark head in silence some minutes before she replied, gravely:
“No, my dear young mistress, you must not defy your husband like that or you will never win him back. You must give me up as he wishes you to do, and perhaps when he sees how you obey his wishes even against your own desire he will send for me to come back to you soon, for I don’t think his anger can hold out long, seeing how sweet and humble and good you are.”
After a few moments she continued, sadly:
“I have known this for some time, Mrs. Laurens, but I would not distress you with it. But now I will give you one warning. Mrs. Laurens has hired a maid for you who was selected and recommended by Miss Louise Barry. Hush, my dear! Do not say you will not have her, for that would anger your husband. Let her come, but be wary and watchful. She may be a tool in Miss Barry’s hands and may mean to do you harm at her instigation.”
CHAPTER XXXVI.
The new maid arrived the next morning and Phebe, who had duly received her discharge from Cecil, came in to bid her mistress good-bye.
She was calm and quiet, resolutely keeping back her tears for fear that she might make the parting too painful.
“You’ll keep my secret, Phebe? You will not tell any one?” Molly implored, clinging to her in pathetic despair.
“Oh, Mrs. Laurens, what do you take me for? Wild horses should not drag a word from me without your consent. You hurt me almost as bad as your husband did this morning,” she said.