CHAPTER V. TURNING A NEW LEAF.

Mymistressbeingdead,andIoncemorealone,Ihadtolookoutforanewplace.AboutthistimeImightbealittle—averylittle—shakeninnerves.IgrantIwasnotlookingwell,but,onthecontrary,thin,haggard,andhollow-eyedlikeasitter-upatnight,likeanoverwroughtservant,oraplacelesspersonindebt.Indebt,however,IwasnotnorquitepoorforthoughMissMarchmonthadnothadtimetobenefitme,as,onthatlastnight,shesaidsheintended,yet,afterthefuneral,mywagesweredulypaidbyhersecondcousin,theheir,anavaricious-lookingman,withpinchednoseandnarrowtemples,who,indeed,Iheardlongafterwards,turnedoutathoroughmiser:adirectcontrasttohisgenerouskinswoman,andafoiltohermemory,blessedtothisdaybythepoorandneedy.Thepossessor,then,offifteenpoundsofhealth,thoughworn,notbroken,andofaspiritinsimilarconditionImightstillincomparisonwithmanypeople,beregardedasoccupyinganenviableposition.Anembarrassingoneitwas,however,atthesametimeasIfeltwithsomeacutenessonacertainday,ofwhichthecorrespondingoneinthenextweekwastoseemydeparturefrommypresentabode,whilewithanotherIwasnotprovided. InthisdilemmaIwent,asalastandsoleresource,toseeandconsultanoldservantofourfamilyoncemynurse,nowhousekeeperatagrandmansionnotfarfromMissMarchmont’s.Ispentsomehourswithhershecomforted,butknewnothowtoadviseme.Stillallinwarddarkness,Ileftherabouttwilightawalkoftwomileslaybeforemeitwasaclear,frostynight.Inspiteofmysolitude,mypoverty,andmyperplexity,myheart,nourishedandnervedwiththevigourofayouththathadnotyetcountedtwenty-threesummers,beatlightandnotfeebly.Notfeebly,Iamsure,orIshouldhavetrembledinthatlonelywalk,whichlaythroughstillfields,andpassedneithervillagenorfarmhouse,norcottage:Ishouldhavequailedintheabsenceofmoonlight,foritwasbytheleadingofstarson