Kates Ordeal | Page 4

with
the one child, and also learn to wait upon the young ladies who were
growing up. Such a nice place as this was not often to be met with, and
Miss Eldon had waited at home all day on Monday, expecting Mrs.
Haydon to call about it. She was on her way there now, thinking she
must be ill, or something had happened; she could hardly think Kate
had forgotten her message, for she was so anxious to obtain a situation
only a short time before.
But Esther Odell's news made her think it was very possible Kate had
forgotten all about it. "Did Kate tell you about this on Sunday," she
said.
"Yes, ma'am; she ran to catch us before we got into school, on purpose
to tell us. She is going to her cousin, to serve in a shop. I wish I had her
chance!" added Esther, with a sigh.
"And you think it is all settled, Esther?" said the lady.
"Oh yes, ma'am, I know it is. I met Kate yesterday, and she had been to
post the letters to her cousin and uncle, telling them she would go."
The lady stood for a moment in silence, debating whether she should

go on and see Kate, and ascertain whether the matter was finally settled,
or call upon Mary Green, and send her to see the lady about this
situation. Looking at her watch, the time decided her, for it was a long
walk to Mrs. Haydon's, and she would not have time to call upon Mary
if she went there.
"Thank you, Esther, for telling me this. Did you say you wanted a
situation?"
"Yes, ma'am, if I could hear of one like Katie's to serve in a shop and
be a young lady. I couldn't be a common servant," she added, quickly.
"A 'common servant,' Esther, what do you mean?" said Miss Eldon,
rather severely. "Do you know that to be a household servant you must
have a character that will bear the strictest inquiry, and therefore those
who are servants are known at once as respectable, honourable people,
and those who employ them know their value, and esteem them
accordingly? Have you so soon forgotten what I told you on Sunday?"
Esther hung her head, feeling very much ashamed for a minute or two,
but at last she managed to say, "I thought servants were always looked
down upon, ma'am."
"No one, whose respect was worth having, would look down upon a
servant because she was a servant. We always looked up to our dear old
nurse, Margaret, and loved her almost as a mother," said Miss Eldon.
"Now, Esther, think over what I have said, and put these foolish notions
away. I know your mother wishes you to go to service. Come and tell
me next Sunday, that I may look out for a situation for you. I must go
and see Mary Green now," and the lady bade her scholar good-bye, and
walked on.
Esther stood a minute looking after her. "I wish I was a lady, and could
have a fine silk dress like hers," she said, half aloud. "I knew she
wanted some of us to take a place, and if it wasn't for that proud Kate
Haydon, I think I would try it, but I couldn't bear to think of her serving
in a grand shop in London, while I was mewed up in a nursery or
kitchen here. Mother must grumble a little longer; I daresay I shall hear

of a place in a shop before long, and who knows but I may go to
London, too;" and Esther went on her way, her mind full of the
unknown glories of London, and vain wishes to be in Kate's place.
Mary Green ran in to see Kate a day or two afterwards, and tell her the
news that she had got a situation at Lady Hazeldean's, as under-nurse
and to wait on the young ladies.
"My dear, I am very glad to hear it," said Mrs. Haydon. "I only wish it
had been offered to Kate, instead of her going to London."
"But--but I thought--" began Mary.
"Mary, do come now, before it gets dark; I want to show you my new
dress," interrupted Kate, hastily jumping up from her seat, and running
out of the room.
Mary followed, but more slowly, wondering not a little at what she had
heard, for she thought Kate had refused this place.
"Don't say any more about this situation at Lady Hazeldean's,"
whispered Kate, when they were safely shut in the bedroom.
"But what can it matter? You do not want it, Kate. Miss Eldon told my
mother she had spoken to you about it on Sunday, but your mother did
not think