ward remained
unspoken, while he looked the glowing admiration which filled his heart.
She seemed slightly embarrassed as she met his gaze, and, in a voice of
clear richness of tone, she remarked:--

"Mr. G---- is no longer here? I have always been accustomed to seeing
him, and have my work ready for disposal."

"I occupy Mr. G----'s place, Miss," replied Guly, with a slight blush
upon his young cheek, as he resumed his erect position. "Can I do
anything for you?"

"Ah, Miss Blanche! how do you do?" exclaimed Wilkins, getting down from
his desk before she could answer Guly's question. "It is a long, long
time since we have seen your young face here. What has been the matter?"

"Ah! Monsieur," she replied, in a tone of inexpressible sadness, and
addressing him in French, "I have had much trouble in the last two
months. I have been greatly bereaved. My poor mother, sir--" she could
go no farther, but broke down as she glanced at the black dress, and
burst into a fit of silent but bitter weeping.

A shade of sympathetic sorrow passed over Wilkins' face, and with a
delicacy of feeling which would not have been expected in him, he
stepped around to that side, where she was exposed to the view of the
customers and clerks, and stood there as if he would, by the
intervention of his huge form, screen her sorrow from the vulgar gaze.

After a few moments Blanche dried her eyes; and with a violent struggle
for self-control, seemed to swallow her grief into her heart.

"You must pardon me, Mr. Wilkins, for giving way here. I thought,
Monsieur, I could do better; but my grief lies very, very heavy here;"
and she laid her hand, with touching grace, upon her heart.

"Ah, Mademoiselle," returned Wilkins, also in French, "I feel deeply for
you, believe me. And you are alone now, and have no friends?"

"Oui, Monsieur, I have my blind grandfather, poor grandpapa; he is very
feeble and infirm." She paused, as if the subject was one too painful to
dwell upon, then drew toward her a little bundle, which she had laid
upon the counter, and said: "I have here my broderie. I hope, Monsieur,
you have not engaged any one else. I have worked day and night to finish
what I had undertaken. I hope they please you."

Wilkins took the little roll, and drew thence several specimens of
exquisite and tasteful embroidering, consisting of one or two heavily
worked _mouchoirs_, several collars, some insertion, edging, &c., &c. He
examined them with