having no ties or claims upon me, I made up my mind to find her out
before I settled down into some new life."

Alas, poor human nature! The few words, "I am well off," influenced
Mrs. Besborough Power at once in her reception of the friendless girl.

"Of course, my dear, stay as long as you like. Go upstairs now and
take your things off, and after dinner you shall tell us all your
story."

And arm-in-arm the two girls left the room, "like twin cherries on a
stalk." The resemblance between them was bewildering; every line of
feature, every tone of colouring was the same.

"Let us stand together before this cheval glass," said Gwladys, "and
have a good look at each other. Oh, Valmai, my beloved sister, I feel
as if I had known you all my life, and could never bear to part with
you."

And as they stood side by side before the glass, they were themselves
astonished, puzzled, and amused at the exact likeness of one to the
other. The same broad forehead, in which, at the temples, the blue
veins showed so plainly, the same depth of tenderness in the blue eyes,
the same slender neck, and the same small hands; the only difference
lay in the expression, for over Gwladys's upper lip and half-drooped
eyelids hovered a shade of pride and haughtiness which was absent from
Valmai's countenance.

"Oh, see," she said playfully, "there is a difference--that little pink
mole on my arm. Valmai, you haven't got it."

"No," said Valmai, critically examining her wrist, with rather a
dissatisfied look, "I haven't got that; but in everything else we are
just alike. How lovely you are, Gwladys."

"And you, Valmai, how sweet." And again they embraced each other.

"I have no dress to change for dinner, dear. Do you dress?"

"Oh, only just a little, and I won't at all this evening. How strange
we should both be in mourning, too! Mine is for Mrs. Power's sister.
Who are you wearing black for?"

A hot blush suffused Valmai's face and neck as she answered slowly:

"I am not in mourning, but thought black would be nice to travel in. I
generally wear white."

"How strange! so do I," said Gwladys; "white or something very light.
Shall we go down, dear? Would you like a bedroom to yourself, or shall
we sleep together?"

"Oh, let us sleep together!"

And with arms thrown over each other's shoulders, they descended the
broad staircase, just as Mrs. Power, in answer to William's summons,
was crossing the hall to the dining-r