ere over, "have you
heard the news about Mrs St. Felix?"

"No, what has she done now?"

"Oh, she has done nothing, but a relation in Ireland has left her a lot
of money, and she is going over there immediately. Whether she will
come back again nobody knows."

"Well, we can do without her," replied my mother, with pique. "I'm very
glad that she's going, for I have always protested at Virginia's being
so intimate with her--a tobacco-shop is not a place for a young lady."

"Mother," replied Virginia, "when we lived in Fisher's Alley Mrs St.
Felix was above us in situation."

"I have desired you very often, Virginia, not to refer to Fisher's
Alley, you know I do not like it--the very best families have had their
reverses."

"I cannot help thinking that such has been the case with Mrs St.
Felix," replied Virginia.

"If you please, Miss Saunders, we'll drop the subject," replied my
mother, haughtily.

The news soon spread; indeed, I walked to several places where I knew it
would be circulated, and before morning all Greenwich knew that Mrs St.
Felix had been left a fortune: some said ten thousand pounds, others had
magnified it to ten thousand a year. When I called upon her the next
day, I found that she had made arrangements for carrying on her business
during her absence, not having stated that she quitted for ever, but
that she would write and let them know as soon as she arrived in Ireland
what her decision would be, as she was not aware what might be the
property left her. The doctor, who had undertaken to conduct her
affairs during her absence, looked very woebegone indeed, and I pitied
him; he had become so used to her company, that he felt miserable at the
idea of her departure, although all hopes of ever marrying her had long
been dismissed from his mind. Mrs St. Felix told me that she would be
ready that evening, and I returned home and found Virginia in tears; her
mother had again assailed her on account of her feelings towards Mrs
St. Felix; and Virginia told me that she was crying at the idea of Mrs
St. Felix going away, much more than at what her mother had said; and
she requested me to walk with her to Mrs St. Felix that she might wish
her farewell.

When we arrived Mrs St. Felix embraced Virginia warmly, and took her
into the little back parlour. Virginia burst into tears. "You are the
only friend in the town that I dearly love," said she, "and now you are
going."

"My dear girl, I am more