gain."

"Oh, it was a bad man, and said bad words--to somebody he was
quarreling with?"

"No, he said them to nurse because she took me away."

"What _did_ he say, Reginald?" asked Lady Bassett, becoming very grave
and thoughtful all at once.

"He said, 'That's too late; I've seen the parson's brat.'"

"Oh!"

"And I've asked nurse again and again what it meant, but she won't tell
me. She only says the man is a liar, and I am not to say it again; and
so I never did say it again--for a long time; but last night, when
Rolfe the writer said he knew everything, it struck my head--what is
the matter, mamma?"

"Nothing; nothing."

"You look so white. Are you ill, mamma?" and he went to put his arms
round her, which was a mighty rare thing with him.

She trembled a good deal, and did not either embrace him or repel him.
She only trembled.

After some time she recovered herself enough to say, in a voice and
with a manner that impressed itself at once on this sharp boy:
"Reginald, your nurse was quite right. Understand this: the man was
your enemy--and mine; the words he said you must not say again. It
would be like taking up dirt and flinging some on your own face and
some on mine."

"I won't do that," said the boy, firmly. "Are you afraid of the man
that you look so white?"

"A man with a woman's tongue--who can help fearing?"

"Don't you be afraid; as soon as I'm big enough, I'll kill him."

Lady Bassett looked with surprise at the child, he uttered this resolve
with such a steady resolution.

She drew him to her, and kissed him on the forehead.

"No, Reginald," said she; "we must not shed blood; it is as wicked to
kill our enemies as to kill any one else. But never speak to him, never
even listen to him; if he tries to speak to you, run away from him, and
don't let him--he is our enemy."

That same day she went to Mrs. Meyrick, to examine her. But she found
the boy had told her all there was to tell.

Mrs. Meyrick, whose affection for her was not diminished, was downright
vexed. "Dear me!" said she; "I did think I had kept that from vexing of
you. To think of the dear child hiding it for nigh two years, and then
to blurt it out like that! Nobody heard him I hope?"

"Others heard; but--"

"Didn't heed; the Lord be praised for that."

"Mary," said Lady Bassett, solemnly, "I am not equal to another battle
with Mr. Richard Bassett; and such a battle! Better tell all, and die."

"Don't think of it," s