MymistresswasanEnglishlady。HewasCountandshewasCountess。Therewasagirltodohousemaid’sworkwhenIgotthere。Shewasnotover-cleanortidy，buttherewasnoharminher。Iandsheweretheonlyservantsinthehouse。
Ourmasterandmistresscameafterwegotin；andassoonastheydidcomeweweretold，downstairs，thatcompanywasexpectedfromthecountry。
Thecompanywasmymistress’sniece，andthebackbedroomonthefirstfloorwasgotreadyforher。MymistressmentionedtomethatLadyGlyde(thatwashername)wasinpoorhealth，andthatImustbeparticularinmycookingaccordingly。Shewastocomethatday，aswellasIcanremember——butwhateveryoudo，don’ttrustmymemoryinthematter。Iamsorrytosayit’snouseaskingmeaboutdaysofthemonth，andsuch-like。ExceptSundays，halfmytimeItakenoheedofthem，beingahard-workingwomanandnoscholar。AllIknowisLadyGlydecame，andwhenshedidcome，afinefrightshegaveusallsurely。Idon’tknowhowmasterbroughthertothehouse，beinghardatworkatthetime。Buthedidbringherintheafternoon，Ithink，andthehousemaidopenedthedoortothem，andshowedthemintotheparlour。Beforeshehadbeenlongdowninthekitchenagainwithme，weheardahurry-skurryupstairs，andtheparlourbellringinglikemad，andmymistress’svoicecallingoutforhelp。
Webothranup，andtherewesawtheladylaidonthesofa，withherfaceghastlywhite，andherhandsfastclenched，andherheaddrawndowntooneside。Shehadbeentakenwithasuddenfright，mymistresssaid，andmasterhetoldusshewasinafitofconvulsions。Iranout，knowingtheneighbourhoodalittlebetterthantherestofthem，tofetchthenearestdoctor’shelp。ThenearesthelpwasatGoodricke’sandGarth’s，whoworkedtogetheraspartners，andhadagoodnameandconnection，asIhaveheard，allroundStJohn’sWood。MrGoodrickewasin，andhecamebackwithmedirectly。
Itwassometimebeforehecouldmakehimselfofmuchuse。Thepoorunfortunateladyfelloutofonefitintoanother，andwentonsotillshewasquiteweariedout，andashelplessasanew-bornbabe。Wethengothertobed。MrGoodrickewentawaytohishouseformedicine，andcamehackagaininaquarterofanhourorless。Besidesthemedicinehebroughtabitofhollowmahoganywoodwithhim，shapedlikeakindoftrumpet，andafterwaitingalittlewhile，heputoneendoverthelady’sheartandtheothertohisear，andlistenedcarefully。
Whenhehaddonehesaystomymistress，whowasintheroom，`Thisisaveryseriouscase，’hesays，`IrecommendyoutowritetoLadyGlyde’sfriendsdirectly。’Mymistresssaystohim，`Isitheart-disease？’Andhesays，`Yes，heart-diseaseofamostdangerouskind。’Hetoldherexactlywhathethoughtwasthematter，whichIwasnotcleverenoughtounderstand。
ButIknowthis，heendedbysayingthathewasafraidneitherhishelpnoranyotherdoctor’shelpwaslikelytobeofmuchservice。
Mymistresstookthisillnewsmorequietlythanmymaster。Hewasabig，fat，oddsortofelderlyman，whokeptbirdsandwhitemice，andspoketothemasiftheyweresomanyChristianchildren。Heseemedterriblycutupbywhathadhappened。`Ah！poorLadyGlyde！poordearLadyGlyde！’
hesays，andwentstalkingabout，wringinghisfathandsmorelikeaplay-actorthanagentleman。Foronequestionmymistressaskedthedoctoraboutthelady’schancesofgettinground，heaskedagoodfiftyatleast。Ideclarehequitetormentedusall，andwhenhewasquietatlast，outhewentintothebitofbackgarden，pickingtrumperylittlenosegays，andaskingmetotakethemupstairsandmakethesick-roomlookprettywiththem。Asifthatdidanygood。Ithinkhemusthavebeen，attimes，alittlesoftinhishead。Buthewasnotabadmaster——hehadamonstrousciviltongueofhisown，andajolly，easy，coaxingwaywithhim。Ilikedhimadealbetterthanmymistress。Shewasahardone，ifevertherewasahardoneyet。
Towardsnight-timetheladyrousedupalittle。Shehadbeensoweariedout，beforethat，bytheconvulsions，thatsheneverstirredhandorfoot，orspokeawordtoanybody。Shemovedinthebednow，andstaredaboutherattheroomandusinit。Shemusthavebeenanice-lookingladywhenwell，withlighthair，andblueeyesandallthat。Herrestwastroubledatnight——atleastsoIheardfrommymistress，whosatupalonewithher。IonlywentinoncebeforegoingtobedtoseeifIcouldbeofanyuse，andthenshewastalkingtoherselfinaconfused，ramblingmanner。
Sheseemedtowantsadlytospeaktosomebodywhowasabsentfromhersomewhere。
Icouldn’tcatchthenamethefirsttime，andthesecondtimemasterknockedatthedoor，withhisregularmouthfulofquestions，andanotherofhistrumperynosegays。
WhenIwentinearlythenextmorning，theladywascleanwornoutagain，andlayinakindoffaintsleep。MrGoodrickebroughthispartner，MrGarth，withhimtoadvise。Theysaidshemustnotbedisturbedoutofherrestonanyaccount。Theyaskedmymistressmanyquestions，attheotherendoftheroom，aboutwhatthelady’shealthhadbeeninpasttimes，andwhohadattendedher，andwhethershehadeversufferedmuchandlongtogetherunderdistressofmind。Iremembermymistresssaid`Yes’tothatlastquestion。AndMrGoodrickelookedatMrGarth，andshookhishead；andMrGarthlookedatMrGoodricke，andshookhishead。Theyseemedtothinkthatthedistressmighthavesomethingtodowiththemischiefatthelady’sheart。Shewasbutafrailthingtolookat，poorcreature！Verylittlestrengthatanytime，Ishouldsay——verylittlestrength。
Lateronthesamemorning，whenshewoke，theladytookasuddenturn，andgotseeminglyagreatdealbetter。Iwasnotletinagaintoseeher，nomorewasthehousemaid，forthereasonthatshewasnottobedisturbedbystrangers。WhatIheardofherbeingbetterwasthroughmymaster。Hewasinwonderfulgoodspiritsaboutthechange，andlookedinatthekitchenwindowfromthegarden，withhisgreatbigcurly-brimmedwhitehaton，togoout。
`GoodMrsCook，’sayshe，`LadyGlydeisbetter。Mymindismoreeasythanitwas，andIamgoingouttostretchmylegswithasunnylittlesummerwalk。ShallIorderforyou，shallImarketforyou，MrsCook？Whatareyoumakingthere？Anicetartfordinner？Muchcrust，ifyouplease——muchcrispcrust，mydear，thatmeltsandcrumblesdeliciousinthemouth。’Thatwashisway。Hewaspastsixty，andfondofpastry。Justthinkofthat！
Thedoctorcameagainintheforenoon，andsawforhimselfthatLadyGlydehadwokeupbetter。Heforbidustotalktoher，ortolethertalktous，incaseshewasthatwaydisposed，sayingshemustbekeptquietbeforeallthings，andencouragedtosleepasmuchaspossible。ShedidnotseemtowanttotalkwheneverIsawher，exceptovernight。whenIcouldn’tmakeoutwhatshewassaying——sheseemedtoomuchworndown。MrGoodrickewasnotnearlyinsuchgoodspiritsaboutherasmaster。Hesaidnothingwhenhecamedownstairs，exceptthathewouldcallagainatfiveo’clock。
Aboutthattime(whichwasbeforemastercamehomeagain)thebellranghardfromthebedroom，andmymistressranoutintothelanding，andcalledtometogoforMrGoodricke，andtellhimtheladyhadfainted。Igotonmybonnetandshawl，when，asgoodluckwouldhaveit，thedoctorhimselfcametothehouseforhispromisedvisit。
Ilethimin，andwentupstairsalongwithhim。`LadyGlydewasjustasusual，’saysmymistresstohimatthedoor；`shewasawake，andlookingaboutherinastrange，forlornmanner，whenIheardhergiveasortofhalfcry，andshefaintedinamoment。’Thedoctorwentuptothebed，andstoopeddownoverthesicklady。Helookedveryserious，allonasudden，atthesightofher，andputhishandonherheart。
MymistressstaredhardinMrGoodricke’sface。`Notdead！’saysshe，whispering，andturningallofatremblefromheadtofoot。
`Yes，’saysthedoctor，veryquietandgrave。`Dead。IwasafraiditwouldhappensuddenlywhenIexaminedherheartyesterday。’Mymistresssteppedbackfromthebedsidewhilehewasspeaking，andtrembledandtrembledagain。`Dead！’shewhisPerstoherself；`deadsosuddenly！deadsosoon！
WhatwilltheCountsay？’MrGoodrickeadvisedhertogodownstairs，andquietherselfalittle。`Youhavebeensittingupallnight，’sayshe，`andyournervesareshaken。Thisperson，’sayshe，meaningme，`thispersonwillstayintheroomtillIcansendforthenecessaryassistance。’Mymistressdidashetoldher。`ImustpreparetheCount，’shesays。`ImustcarefullypreparetheCount。’Andsosheleftus，shakingfromheadtofoot，andwentout。
`Yourmasterisaforeigner，’saysMrGoodricke，whenmymistresshadleftus。`Doesheunderstandaboutregisteringthedeath？’`Ican’trightlytell，sir，’saysI，`butIshouldthinknot。’Thedoctorconsideredaminute，andthensayshe，`Idon’tusuallydosuchthings，’sayshe，`butitmaysavethefamilytroubleinthiscaseifIregisterthedeathmyself。I
shallpassthedistrictofficeinhalfanhour’stime，andIcaneasilylookin。Mention，ifyouplease，thatIwilldoso，’`Yes，sir，’saysI，`withthanks，I’msure，foryourkindnessinthinkingofit。’`Youdon’tmindstayingheretillIcansendyoutheproperperson？’sayshe。`No，sir，’saysI；`I’llstaywiththepoorladytillthen。Isupposenothingmorecouldbedone，sir，thanwasdone？’saysI。`No，’sayshe，`nothing；
shemusthavesufferedsadlybeforeeverIsawher——thecasewashopelesswhenIwascalledin。’`Ah，dearme！weallcometoit，soonerorlater，don’twe，sir？’saysI。Hegavenoanswertothat——hedidn’tseemtocareabouttalking。Hesaid，`Good-day，’andwentout。
IstoppedbythebedsidefromthattimetillthetimewhenMrGoodrickesentthepersonin，ashehadpromised。Shewas，byname，JaneGould。I
consideredhertobearespectable-lookingwoman。Shemadenoremark，excepttosaythatsheunderstoodwhatwaswantedofher，andthatshehadwindedamanyoftheminhertime。
Howmasterborethenews，whenhefirstheardit，ismorethanIcantell，nothavingbeenpresent。WhenIdidseehimhelookedawfullyovercomebyit，tobesure。Hesatquietinacorner，withhisfathandshangingoverhisthickknees，andhisheaddown，andhiseyeslookingatnothing。
Heseemednotsomuchsorry，asscaredanddazedlike，bywhathadhappened。
Mymistressmanagedallthatwastobedoneaboutthefuneral。Itmusthavecostasightofmoney——thecoffin，inparticular，beingmostbeautiful。
Thedeadlady’shusbandwasaway，asweheard，inforeignparts。Butmymistress(beingheraunt)settleditwithherfriendsinthecountry(Cumberland，Ithink)thatsheshouldbeburiedthere，inthesamegravealongwithhermother。Everythingwasdonehandsomely，inrespectofthefuneral，Isayagain，andmasterwentdowntoattendtheburyinginthecountryhimself。Helookedgrandinhisdeepmourning，withhisbigsolemnface，andhisslowwalk，andhisbroadhatband——thathedid！
Inconclusion，Ihavetosay，inanswertoquestionsputtome——
(i)ThatneitherInormyfellow-servanteversawmymastergiveLadyGlydeanymedicinehimself。
