that I was about giving.

"Say that I'm not at home, if any one asks to see me," came in a
sudden impulse from my lips.

And then my cheeks flushed to think that I had instructed my servant
to give utterance to a falsehood.

"Yes, mim," answered the girl, glancing into my face with a knowing
leer, that produced an instant sense of humiliation; and away she
went to do my bidding.

I did not glance towards Agnes, as I returned to my seat and took up
my work. I had not the courage to do this. That I had lowered myself
in her estimation, I felt certain. I heard the street door open, and
bent, involuntarily, in a listening attitude. The voice of a lady
uttered my name.

"She's not at home, mim," came distinctly on my ears, causing the
flush on my cheeks to become still deeper.

A murmur of voices followed. Then I heard the closing of the
vestibule door, and Mary returning to the back parlor where we were
sitting.

"Who was it, Mary?" I enquired, as the girl entered.

"Mrs.--Mrs.--Now what was it? Sure, and I've forgotten their names
intirely."