She  was  very  glad  to  find  Lucy  was  out ;  it  gave  her
an  opportunity.  She  sent  for  Lucy's  maid  to  help  her
unpack  a  dress  or  two  —  thirteen.  This  girl  was  paid
out  of  Lucy's  estate,  but  did  not  know  that.  Mrs.  Bazal-
gette  handed  her  her  wages,  and  that  gives  an  influence.
The  wily  matron  did  not  trust  to  that  alone.  In  unpack-
ing she  gave  the  girl  a  dress  and  several  smaller  presents,
and,  this  done,  slowly  and  cautiously  pimiped  her.  Jane,
to  fulfil  her  share  of  a  bargain,  which,  though  never  once
alluded  to,  was  perfectly  understood  between  both  the
parties,  told  her  all  she  knew  and  all  she  conjectured,
told  her  in  particular  how  constantly  Mr.  Talboys  was
in  the  house,  and  how  one  night  the  old  gentleman  had
walked  part  of  the  way  home  with  him,  "which  Mr.
Thomas  says  he  didn't  think  his  master  would  do  it  for
the  king,  mum  ! "  and  had  come  in  all  a  flurry  and  sent
up  for  miss,  and  swore  ^  awful  when  she  couldn't  come
because  she  was  abed.  "  So  you  may  depend,  mum,  it  is
so ;  leastways,  the  gentlemen  they  are  willing ;  we  talk
it  over  mostly  every  day  in  the  servants'  hall,  mum,  and
we  are  all  of  a  mind  so  fur  ;  but  whether  it  will  come  to
a  wedding,  that  we  haven't  a-settled  yet ;  it's  miss  beats
us  :  she  is  like  no  other  young  lady  ever  I  came  a-nigh.
'  The  ladies  of  the  bed-chamber  will  embellish.  After  all,  it  is  their
business.
