tened to this tirade with her accustomed composure, and went
to Griselda's room to do her lady's bidding.

She gathered together a few things which Griselda might immediately
need, and gave them, with the violin, to Brian. The old leather case she
would not trust out of her sight, and, hastily putting on her cloak and
huge _caleche_, she said she would follow the boy to John Street.

As they left the house, Zach was peeping out from behind the door, and
Brian shook his fist at him.

"I would like to thrash you--you wicked little spy--you!"

But Zach had the gold-pieces in his pocket, and only made a grimace in
return to Brian's threatening gesture.

Graves' heart was touched, perhaps, as it had never been touched before,
when she saw Griselda lying on the couch, with Norah asleep in her arms.

Griselda was not asleep, and looking up to Graves, said, in a piteous
voice:

"Oh, dear Graves, I am alone now!--there is no one belonging to me but
this child--we must hold together. Kiss her, Graves--gently, she may
wake. Poor, poor little Norah! I have forgotten her in this day's
misery. Speak to the kind people here, and ask them to let me stay with
them--I can pay them. I can work for them--I was always clever with my
needle."

"Here is your box of jewels, my poor dear, I brought them myself; the
boy has brought your clothes and a gown for to-morrow."

"You forget, you forget, Graves--I must have a black gown for my father,
and--for _him_--my only love. Oh! Graves--do hearts break? I feel as if
mine must break--and that I must die."

Graves struggled in vain with her tears: they chased each other down her
furrowed cheeks.

"Trust in the Lord, my dear. There may be a bow in the dark cloud--who
can tell?"

Then Graves went to the Miss Hoblyns, who had considerately left
Griselda and the child alone together, and she arranged a bedroom at the
back of the house, and placed her young mistress's possessions in some
order.

"The young lady will be able to pay for her lodgings and board, madam,"
Graves said, "and for the child's also. She has already sold some
jewels, and----"

But Miss Hoblyn waved her hand, as if to say she wanted nothing else
said just then, and Graves proceeded to light a fire, and make the room
allotted to Griselda's use as comfortable as circumstances allowed; and
then, wringing Miss Hoblyn's delicate hand in her large work-worn
fingers, she hastened back to North Parade.

There was no immed