ed an old woman, who
had been supported for some years by his father's family, though she
could do little in return. She was sitting on the step, with her face
on her knees, crying bitterly.

"'What now, Betty?' said Bernard.

"'Ah, Master Low!' she said, looking up, 'is it you, my precious
master, and do you say, what's the matter now? Have not they told you?
The hardened creatures to keep such news from you!'

"And she then told him the real cause of the breaking up of the school,
the absence of Mr. Evans and Jacob, and the visit of Mrs. Smith. News
had come that day to Rookdale, that the _Dory_ had been lost at sea,
and gone down with every creature on board: having been seen to
founder by some other vessel, in a dreadful squall off some island.

"Mr. Evans had gone immediately to discover the truth of this account,
which was in a newspaper. It is not known where he went, or to whom he
wrote letters; but this is certain, that he only obtained confirmation
of the dreadful news, and as weeks passed, and nothing was heard from
Mr. Low or of the _Dory_, every one, of course, believed that poor
Bernard was an orphan.

"Miss Grizzy began to think where the money was to come from to pay for
Bernard's keep; for what had been said was very true, Mr. Low had had
little to depend upon but his living; or if he had saved anything, it
could not be known where his savings were, till his papers could be
looked up, and that could not be done until it was as certain as might
be that he was really dead.

"Poor Bernard!--now his time of trial had come: he was quite unprepared
for the story old Betty told him. Mr. Evans had wished it might for the
present be kept from him. He fell down like one struck with death when
he heard the story.

"The old woman screamed; at her cry, Stephen and the boys, who were not
far off, came running to her; more help was called, Bernard was lifted
up, and carried to the house and put to bed.

"When laid on his bed, it was found that the sudden shock had made him
very ill, and there was fear of inflammation of the brain. The doctor
was sent for, he was bled more than once, his head was shaved, and a
large blister put upon it. He was reduced to be as weak as a baby: he
called often, when he knew not what he said, for his father and his
mother, and his own sweet Lucilla; and when he recollected that he had
heard they were dead, he called for his nurse.

"Nurse came the moment she heard of his illnes