"I
must sound Louisa first."
She collected the scattered coins in her lap, and placed them in a
little heap on the table, then rose and rang the bell. The landlady
answered it.
"Is my servant downstairs?" inquired Magdalen.
"Yes, ma'am. She is having her tea."
"When she has done, say I want her up here. Wait a moment. You will find
your money on the table--the money I owe you for last week. Can you find
it? or would you like to have a candle?"
"It's rather dark, ma'am."
Magdalen lit a candle. "What notice must I give you," she asked, as she
put the candle on the table, "before I leave?"
"A week is the usual notice, ma'am. I hope you have no objection to make
to the house?"
"None whatever. I only ask the question, because I may be obliged to
leave these lodgings rather sooner than I anticipated. Is the money
right?"
"Quite right, ma'am. Here is your receipt."
"Thank you. Don't forget to send Louisa to me as soon as she has done
her tea."
The landlady withdrew. As soon as she was alone again, Magdalen
extinguished the candle, and drew an empty chair close to her own chair
on the hearth. This done, she resumed her former place, and waited
until Louisa appeared.
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