very
kind to us, and yet so poor; yes, I think she would come.'

'Is she a lady, Gladys?'

'If to be a lady is to have a heart of gold, which never thinks one
unselfish thought, she is one, Mrs. Fordyce,' said Gladys warmly.

'These are the attributes of a lady, of course, Gladys, but there are
other things, my dear, which _must_ be considered. If this Miss Peck is
to sit at your table, help you to guide your household, and be your
constant companion, she must be a very superior person.'

'She was well brought up. I think her father was a surgeon in Boston,'
said Gladys; and these words at once relieved the lawyer's wife.

'If that is so, she may be the very person for whom we are seeking. You
are sure she is still there?'

'Yes,' replied Gladys reluctantly. 'I wrote to her in the summer. Mr.
Fordyce allowed me to send her some money,--not in charity, it was the
payment of a just debt,--and when she replied I knew by her letter that
she was still very poor. I have always meant to have her come to me at
Bourhill, but it will be delightful if she can come altogether.'

'You have a good heart, Gladys; you will not forget those who have
befriended you.'

'I hope not, I pray not; only sometimes I am afraid it is harder for
some reasons to be rich than poor.'

These words slightly surprised Mrs. Fordyce, though she did not ask an
explanation of them.

'Try to sleep, my child, and don't worry your dear brain with plans,'
she said, and, with a motherly kiss, returned to the little _salon_ to
enjoy the rare luxury of recalling old memories she had shared with the
friend of her youth. They sat far on into the night, and before they
parted Mrs. Fordyce was in full possession of the whole story of these
weary and sordid years through which Henrietta Bonnemain had
uncomplainingly borne her burden of poverty and care.

'Then the Colonel turned up,' she concluded, with a curious little
tender smile; 'just when my affairs were at the lowest ebb he came here
to visit an old regimental friend who lives over the way. So we met, and
both being unattached, we drew to each other, and next month we are to
be married.'

'Tell me about him, Henrietta, tell me all about him. I declare I am as
silly and curious as a school-girl--far more curious about this new
lover of yours than I ever was about the old.'

'There is no comparison between the two, Isabel--none at all. Captain
Bonnemain was a good man, and he loved me dearly, but i