"Her ladyship has told me that you will eat with us in the servants' hall." This was addressed to me. "Mr. Haggety will tell you your place." Then to Mellyora: "I understand you're to have meals in your own room, Miss."

I felt a rush of color to my cheeks and I knew Mrs. Rolt noticed it and was not displeased, I foresaw battles to come. I had to stop myself blurting out that I would take my meals with Mellyora; I knew this would be forbidden and I should be doubly humiliated.

I stared up at the vaulted ceiling. These kitchen quarters with their ovens and spits had been used from the earliest days and I discovered later that there were butteries, pantries, storerooms, and cooling houses attached.

Mrs. Rolt went on: "We be all sorry. Miss, about your bereavement. Mr. Haggety were saying as things won't be the same like what with the new Reverend at the parsonage and you. Miss, here at the Abbas."

"Thank you," said Mellyora.

"Well, we was saying—Mr. Haggety and me—as how we hoped you'd settle in well. Her ladyship needs a companion since Sir Justin was afflicted."

"I hope so too," answered Mellyora quietly.

"Of course you'll know how things be run in a big house. Miss." She glanced at me and that quirk played about her mouth. She was telling me that there was a world of difference between my position and that of Mellyora. Mellyora was the parson's daughter and a lady born and bred. I could see that she was thinking of me standing on the platform at Trelinket Fair and that was how she would always see me.

Doll came back to announce that her ladyship would see us now, and Mrs. Rolt told us to follow her. We mounted about a dozen stone stairs at the top of which was a green baize door which led to the main part of the house. We went along several corridors before we came to the main hall and ascended the staircase which I remembered from the night of the ball.

"Here be the part where the family do live," said Mrs. Rolt. She nudged me. "Why you be all pop-eyed, m'dear. Reckon you thinking how grand everything be, eh?"

"No," I retorted, "I was thinking how far it must be from the kitchens to the dining room. Doesn't the food get cold in transit?"

"Transit, eh? Who be 'e when he's out? Tain't going to worry 'ee, m'dear. You'll never be eating in they dining rooms." She gave a merry cackle. I caught Mellyora's eye and read a warning and a plea. Don't lose your temper, she was telling me. Give it a trial. It's our only chance of being together.

I thought that I recognized some of the corridors through which I had run in panic on the night of the ball. At last we stopped at a door and Mrs. Rolt knocked.

When she was told to come in, she said in a voice very different from that which she had used for us: "My lady, the new companion and maid is come."

"Bring them in, Mrs. Rolt."

Mrs. Rolt jerked her head and we entered the room. It was large and lofty, with huge windows looking over the lawns; a fire burned in the enormous fireplace; the room seemed to me luxuriously furnished but my attention was focused on the woman who sat upright in a chair near the fire.

"Come here," she said imperiously. Then, "That will do, Mrs. Rolt Wait outside until you are summoned."

As we advanced Mrs. Rolt retired.

"Pray sit down. Miss Martin," commanded Lady St. Larnston. Mellyora sat while I remained standing because I was not invited to sit. "We did not discuss very fully what your duties would be, but that is something which you will, of course, discover as time goes on. I trust you read well. My eyes are not as good as they were and I shall need you to read to me each day. You will begin your duties without delay. Do you write a good hand? I shall need you to deal with my correspondence. These are matters which would ordinarily have been settled before you were engaged, but since we have been neighbors I felt a point could be stretched in your case. A pleasant room has been allotted to you. It is next to my bedroom so that you can be within call should I need you during the night. Has Mrs. Rolt told you where you are to have your meals?"

"Yes, Lady St. Larnston."

"Well, that seems to have taken care of everything. You shall be shown your room and unpack your bag."

She turned to me and lifted the lorgnette which hung from her waist and surveyed me coolly.

"And this is Carlee."

"Kerensa Carlee," I said as proudly as I had that day when I had stood in the wall.

"I have heard something of your history. I have taken you in because Miss Martin pleaded with me to do so. I trust you will not disappoint us. Mrs. Justin St. Larnston is not, I think, at home at the moment. You will be shown your room, and should wait there until she sends for you, which she will doubtless do on her return since she is aware that you are to arrive today. Now, tell Mrs. Rolt to come in."

I opened the door promptly, as Mrs. Rolt was hastily stepping back, having, I guessed, been crouching forwards, ear to the keyhole.

"Mrs. Rolt," ordered Lady St. Larnston, "show Miss Martin and Carlee to their rooms."

"Yes, my lady."

As we left, I was aware that Lady St. Larnston's eyes were on me, and I felt depressed. This was more humiliating than I had imagined it would be. All the spirit seemed to have been drained out of Mellyora. It should not be so with me. I made myself feel defiant and angry.

Soon, I promised myself, I should know my way about this house. Every room and corridor would be familiar to me. I remembered the night I had fled from Johnny and the panic I had suffered then. I was certainly not going to allow Johnny to humiliate me if, for the time being, I had to submit to his mother's insults.

"The family do have all their rooms in this part of the house," explained Mrs. Rolt. "This be her ladyship's and you'm next door. Miss Martin. Farther along the corridor, that be where Mr. Justin and his lady do have theirs." She nodded to me. "You be there too."

And so I was taken to my room—a maid's room—but not an ordinary maid, I reminded myself. A lady's maid. I was not like Doll or Daisy. I had special gifts and very soon I was going to make the kitchen staff aware of this.

In the meantime I must go slowly. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I did not look like myself at all. I was wearing a black cloak and black bonnet. Black didn't suit me in any case, but the mourning bonnet hid my hair and was quite hideous.

Then I went to the window and looked out on the lawns and the Six Virgins.

That was when I said to myself, "You're here. You live here." And I couldn't help but feel this triumph because it was where I wanted to be. My melancholy left me. I was exultant and excited. I was in the house as a servant, but that in itself was a challenge.

As I stood at the window, the door opened, and I knew at once who she was. She was tall and dark—though not as dark as I—she was graceful and dressed in a pearl-gray riding habit and her skin glowed, presumably with her recent exercise. She was beautiful and she did not look unkind. I knew her for my employer, Judith St. Larnston.

"You're Carlee," she said. "I was told you had arrived. Fm glad you're here. My wardrobe is in a muddle. You'll be able to put it in order."

That staccato way of speaking immediately called to mind those panic-stricken moments in the cupboard.

"Yes ... Madam."

I had my back to the window so that I was in shadow; the light was full on her face; I noticed the restless topaz-colored eyes; the rather flaring nostrils, the full sensuous lips.

"Have you unpacked your bag?"

"No." I wasn't going to call her Madam any more than was absolutely necessary. I was already congratulating myself because I believed my employer was going to be more lenient and more considerate than Mellyora's.

"Well, when you have done so, come to my room. Do you know where it is? No, of course not. How could you? Til show you."

I followed her out of my room and a few steps along the corridor.

"This door leads to my bedroom and the dressing room. Knock when you're ready."

I nodded, and went back to my room. I felt better in her company than I had in Mrs. Rolt's. I took off the hideous bonnet and felt better still. I tidied my hair which was dressed on top of my head, and the sight of those black gleaming coils reassured me. Beneath the black cloak I wore a black dress—one of Mellyora's. I longed to put a touch of scarlet or emerald green at the neck, but I dared not, for I was supposed to be in mourning. However, I should wear a white collar as soon as possible, I promised myself.

I went along to the room as instructed, knocked discreetly and was bidden to enter. She was sitting at her mirror looking idly at her reflection, and she did not turn round. I noticed the big bed with the brocade hangings, the long tapestry-covered stool at its foot; the rich carpet and curtains, the dressing table at which she sat, with its wood carving and the huge candelabra on either side of the mirror held up by gilded cupids. And of course the cupboard which I remembered so well.

She had seen my reflection in the mirror and she turned to stare at me, her gaze resting on my hair. I knew that taking off my bonnet had transformed me and that because of it she was not so pleased with me as she had been before.

"How old are you, Carlee?"

"Nearly seventeen."

"You are very young. Do you think you can do this work?"

"Oh yes. I know how to dress hair and enjoy caring for clothes."

"I had no idea ..." She bit her Hp. "I thought you were older." She came over to me, still looking at me. "I'd like you to go through my wardrobe. Make it tidy. I caught my heel in the lace of an evening gown. Can you mend lace?"