But I've not been called a servant, you see; and I suppose
Stephen thinks that's payment enough for my trouble. Goodness knows I've
saved him many a pound, and that he'll know when I'm gone; for he's near,
is Stephen, and it goes to his heart to part with a shilling."
"But why should you ever leave him, Mrs. Tadman?" Ellen asked kindly. "I
shouldn't think he could have a better housekeeper."
"Perhaps not," answered the widow, shaking her head with mysterious
significance; "but his wife won't think that; and when he's got a wife
he'll want her to be his housekeeper, and to pinch and scrape as I've
pinched and scraped for him. Lord help her!" concluded Mrs. Tadman, with a
faint groan, which was far from complimentary to her relative's character.
"But perhaps he never will marry," argued Ellen coolly.
"O, yes, he will, Miss Carley," replied Mrs. Tadman, with another
significant movement of her head; "he's set his heart on that, and he's set
his heart on the young woman he means to marry."
"He can't marry her unless she's willing to be his wife, any how," said
Ellen, reddening a little.
"O, he'll find a way to make her consent, Miss Carley, depend upon that.
Whatever Stephen Whitelaw sets his mind upon, he'll do. But I don't envy
that poor young woman; for she'll have a hard life of it at Wyncomb, and
a hard master in my cousin Stephen.
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