near the door before she allowed her to sit down, and even then, as if to excuse herself for permitting such a liberty to be taken in her presence, she said that very likely the young lady was tired after the fatiguing journey.
Miss Jenny sat down exactly in the manner of a lady at court in the presence of her queen, which the baroness observed with favour. She then began to spin out her discourse slowly, coldly, and decisively, enveloping the listener in an endless net of instructions. She told her item after item, what was expected from her, and what she must do if she wished to give satisfaction, as well as what she must not do if her stay at Labutín Castle was to be of duration, and useful and agreeable to both parties. Giving a description of her family and household, she made a longer pause when she came to Baron Mundy.
“Though I know from your references that you are of strict morals and of a good burgher family—had it been otherwise I should not have asked you to become the companion of my daughter—yet it will be as well for me to remind you at once that sometimes in aristocratic houses, between the dependent young females and the male members of the family, from youthful want of experience, intrigues of the heart are woven which cannot be permitted. That such affairs, in most cases, end in the ruin of the weaker side is perfectly clear. I must therefore warn you to beware of even the least approach of such a thing.”
Poor Jenny felt as if she was sitting on hot coals, and her head was quite bewildered from all the explanations. She knew some answer was expected from her, but somehow she felt as if she was choking, and quite unable to speak.
