To the inquiries of her fellow-
servants, Melissa curtly replied that it was none of their business
what had happened and if they had any business they'd better attend to
it instead of snooping around the halls trying to find out something
that did not in the least concern them.
Melissa knew what had happened. Before eight o'clock that night Miss
Fairweather knew, and Flanders also. The great Bingle dream was not
the only one to be shattered by the news that the day brought forth.
For the first time in two days, Melissa addressed herself to Mr.
Diggs. Her lip trembled and there were tears lying close to the
surface of her eyes. She told the butler, in smothered tones, that she
had decided to remain in the employ of Mr. Bingle as long as he needed
her services, and that she would have to return his ring. She could
not marry him--at least not at present, nor for a long time perhaps.
The children refused to go to bed unless Melissa told them a story.
She collected them in the nursery--the lame, the halt and the half-
blind--and very meekly inquired what kind of a story they would have.
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