me back to the other girls.

"It is true," she said sadly, "there came a letter this morning from
Captain Forest; he will be at Lavender House in a week. Miss Danesbury
says it is a wonderful letter, and he has been shipwrecked, and on an
island by himself for ever so long; but he is safe now, and will soon be
in England. Miss Danesbury says Mrs. Willis can scarcely speak about that
letter; she is in great, great trouble, and Miss Danesbury confesses that
they are all more anxious than they dare to admit about Annie and little
Nan."

At this moment the sound of carriage wheels was heard on the drive, and
Susan, peering forward to see who was arriving, remarked in her usual
nonchalant manner:

"Only the little Misses Bruce in their basket-carriage--what dull-looking
women they are?"

Nobody commented, however, on her observation, and gradually the little
group of girls sank into absolute silence.

From where they sat they could see the basket-carriage waiting at the
front entrance--the little ladies had gone inside, all was perfect
silence and stillness.

Suddenly on the stillness a sound broke--the sound of a girl running
quickly; nearer and nearer came the steps, and the four or five who sat
together under the oak-tree noticed the quick panting breath, and felt
even before a word was uttered that evil tidings were coming to them.
They all started to their feet, however; they all uttered a cry of horror
and distress when Hester herself broke into their midst. She was supposed
to be lying down in a darkened room, she was supposed to be very
ill--what was she doing here?

"Hetty!" exclaimed Cecil.

Hester pushed past her; she rushed up to Susan Drummond, and seized her
arm.

"News has come!" she panted; "news--news at last! Nan is found!--and
Annie--they are both found--but Annie is dying. Come, Susan, come this
moment; we must both tell what we know now."

By her impetuosity, by the intense fire of her passion and agony, even
Susan was electrified into leaving her seat and going with her.

CHAPTER XLIX.

TWO CONFESSIONS.

Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the
front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in
the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.

The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was
hastily packing some things into a basket.

"I--I must speak to you," said Hester, going u