e next
morning, Parson Kendall regarded her with much thoughtfulness. And when
he said, soberly, "I would see thee again in the library after thy meal
is finished," she wondered what he might have to say.

He spoke gently, but wasted no words as he began:

"Maid Sally Dukeen, it hath pleased God to take unto himself the woman,
Mistress Cory Ann Brace, who departed this life at midnight just past.

"But there was that on her mind which it beseemed her must be told
before she could die in peace. And she made confession that thy father
left thee suddenly when thou wert but six years of age, and being a
stranger, and thinking better of Mistress Brace than I greatly fear she
deserved, he left thee in her care, together with a considerable sum of
money, which was to pay for board and proper schooling.

"But being tempted of the Spirit of Evil, Mistress Brace used the money
as if it was her own. A large portion of it she had spent, but some yet
remains. This, she also confessed with tears and with sighs, she
intended to put at interest as soon as some of our present troubles were
over.

"What thy treatment was with Mistress Brace we need not dwell upon."

"She was not cruel, sir," said Maid Sally, wishing in her tender young
heart to speak kindly of the dead.

"Not cruel, perhaps, as to violent treatment, child," said the stern,
just parson, "yet I hold it cruel, ah, very cruel, to have kept thee
much as a serving-maid, and keeping back thy education as she did, and
would have continued to have done, had it not been for the good blood
in thy veins that cried out for better things."

"Have I good blood in my veins, sir?" cried Sally, twisting her pointed
fingers in an eager, nervous way.

"Aye, the best of blood, dear child, and the will of an iron-nerved
forefather. I hurried out last night for that man of the law, Sir
Gaspard Culpeper, that he might witness to what the poor misguided woman
had to say, and wishing God's mercy for myself as well as for all
others, I have it in my heart to admit that ignorance had much to do
with the great mistakes of Mistress Brace and her dealings.

"Hast thou ever seen this name before, Maid Sally? Look well upon it,
and try to remember."

Sally looked at the paper the parson handed her, and the rich blood
spread over her face.

"Speak truth, child," said the parson.

"I did indeed see that name once, both on a cape and in a letter that
lay in a little trunk at Mistress Brace'