?"

"A little village on the St. Lawrence River called Fisher's Landing,"
returned Jessie. "My uncle, Captain Carr, died a week ago, and I was
forced to leave my old home, and go out into the world and earn my own
living."

"Did you say you lived at Fisher's Landing?" exclaimed the old lady,
"and that Captain Carr of that place was your uncle?"

"Yes, madame," returned Jessie.

CHAPTER XXIII.

JESSIE BAIN ENTERS THE HOUSE OF SECRETS.

The old lady stared at Jessie through her spectacles.

"You need no other recommendation. I once met Captain Carr under
thrilling circumstances, my child. I was out in a row-boat one day--some
ten years ago--when a steamer almost ran down our little skiff. I would
have been capsized, and perhaps drowned, had it not been for the bravery
of Captain Carr, of Fisher's Landing. I made him a handsome little
present, and from that day to this I have never heard from him. Captain
Carr dead, and his niece out in the world looking for a situation! You
shall come to me, if you like, reference or no reference, my dear.'

"Oh, madam, you are so very, very kind!" sobbed Jessie.

The little old lady touched a silver bell close at hand, and a tidy,
elderly maid appeared.

"Harriet, I have engaged this young woman as companion," she said. "She
came in answer to yesterday's advertisement in the _Argus_. You will
take her to her room at once. She is to occupy the little room directly
off mine."

The room into which she ushered Jessie was a small, dingy apartment,
with draperies so sombre that they seemed almost black. The curtains
were closely drawn, and an unmistakable atmosphere of mustiness pervaded
the apartment.

"Have you had breakfast, miss?" asked Harriet, looking sharply into the
girl's pale face, and adding before she had time to reply: "Even though
you have breakfasted, a cup of hot tea will do you good this cold, crisp
morning. My lady will be pleased to have you come down to the table. The
bell will ring in about ten minutes. You can easily make your way there.
Step down the corridor, and turn into the passage-way at the right; the
second door."

Jessie bowed her thanks, and murmured that she would be very grateful
for a cup of tea. It was not long before she heard the breakfast-bell.
Hastily quitting the room, she made her way down the corridor. In her
confusion, the girl made the mistake of turning to the left, instead of
the right, as she had been directed.

"The se