Waugh politely, and then
gave her undivided attention to Edith, whose care she seemed fully
competent to undertake.

This young girl was not over fourteen years of age, yet the most
beautiful and blooming creature, Mrs. Waugh thought, that she had ever
beheld.

Her presence in the room seemed at once to dispel the gloom and shadow.

She took Edith's hand, and settled her more at ease in the chair--but
refused the cologne and the salammoniac that Mrs. Waugh produced,
saying, cheerfully:

"She has not fainted, you perceive--she breathes--it is better to leave
her to nature for a while--too much attention worries her--she is very
weak."

Marian had now settled her comfortably back in the resting chair, and
stood by her side, not near enough to incommode her in the least.

"I do not understand all this. She says that her husband is dead, poor
child--how came it about? Tell me!" said Mrs. Waugh, in a low voice.

Marian's clear blue eyes filled with tears, but she dropped their white
lids and long black lashes over them, and would not let them fall; and
her ripe lips quivered, but she firmly compressed them, and remained
silent for a moment. Then she said, in a whisper:

"I will tell you by and by," and she glanced at Edith, to intimate that
the story must not be rehearsed in her presence, however insensible she
might appear to be.

"You are the young lady who wrote to me?"

"Yes, madam."

"You are a friend of my poor girl's?"

"Something more than that, madam--I will tell you by and by," said
Marian, and her kind, dear eyes were again turned upon Edith, and
observing the latter slightly move, she said, in her pleasant voice:

"Edith, dear, shall I put you to bed--are you able to walk?"

"Yes, yes," murmured the sufferer, turning her head uneasily from side
to side.

Marian gave her hand, and assisted the poor girl to rise, and tenderly
supported her as she walked to the bedroom.

Mrs. Waugh arose to give her assistance, but Marian shook her head at
her, with a kindly look, that seemed to say, "Do not startle her--she is
used only to me lately," and bore her out of sight into the bedroom.

Presently she reappeared in the little parlor, opened the blinds, drew
back the curtains, and let the sunlight into the dark room. Then she
ordered more wood to the fire, and when it was replenished, and the
servant had left the room, she invited Mrs. Waugh to draw her chair to
the hearth, and then said:

"I am ready