When the week is over, and the dresses are done, we will leave this
place, and go into other lodgings--you as the mistress and I as the
maid."
"I should be found out, ma'am," interposed Louisa, trembling at the
prospect before her. "I am not a lady."
"And I am," said Magdalen, bitterly. "Shall I tell you what a lady
is? A lady is a woman who wears a silk gown, and has a sense of her own
importance. I shall put the gown on your back, and the sense in
your head. You speak good English; you are naturally quiet and
self-restrained; if you can only conquer your timidity, I have not the
least fear of you. There will be time enough in the new lodging for you
to practice your character, and for me to practice mine. There will be
time enough to make some more dresses--another gown for me, and your
wedding-dress (which I mean to give you) for yourself. I shall have the
newspaper sent every day. When the advertisement appears, I shall answer
it--in any name I can take on the spur of the moment; in your name,
if you like to lend it to me; and when the housekeeper asks me for my
character, I shall refer her to you. She will see you in the position
of mistress, and me in the position of maid--no suspicion can possibly
enter her mind, unless you put it there.
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