Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/27

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IN HIGH LIFE.
29

I was immediately driven there, and found, sure enough, by the welcome I received from my young lady and others that the conjecture was right. Several people had been sent out to look for me to no purpose, and, on thanking the gentleman for his kindness in bringing me home, I cried with a joy I never felt before, and wondered what rich or grand person in America would have done so charitable an act. I was overwhelmed with gratitude, and flew about like a big crazy child, crying and laughing alternately for hours afterward.

I had never heard of London fogs, and the next morning when I awoke the sun looked so red and glaring through the dense smoke that I thought the Judgment Day had certainly come; but it was not the Judgment Day at all—it was only a London day. My morning duties to my lady over, I sat down and laughed heartily over the events of the day previous. They were queer enough.

After a short stay in London, M'lle M. returned to France, taking with her, as she had intended, an English maid. Before her departure I had become acquainted with a Mrs. R., who very kindly interested herself in getting a situation for me. During the next week I had a great many offers of places. One wished me to go as maid; another as chamber-maid; some wanted one thing, some another; but none of the places suited me, and I did not accept any of them. However, at length a family named S., from Snaresbrook, Essex county, engaged me as child's nurse. As they did not want me for a month, I made the most of the interval in sight-seeing. I went to Windsor; saw a good deal of the palace; attended St. Paul's