landlady, `her husband died only two
months ago, and they say he was so handsome a man; indeed, he must have
been, for here's his picture, which the poor lady wore round her neck.'

"`When your aunt had satisfied herself, and cried a little over the
body, for she was very fond of Miss Ellen, she went back to the hotel as
fast as she could, and getting a jug of warm water from the kitchen, she
went into Miss Barbara's room, and had just time to throw off her bonnet
and shawl, when Miss Barbara woke up and asked who was there.

"`It's me, miss,' replied my daughter, `I've just gone down for some
warm water for you, for it's past nine o'clock, and I thought you would
like to be up early.'

"`Yes, I must get up, Martha, for I intend to return home to-day. It's
no use waiting here. I will have breakfast, and then walk to the
lodgings and give directions. You may pack up in the meantime, for I
suppose you do not wish to go with me.'

"`Oh, no, miss,' replied your aunt, `I am frightened out of my wits at
having been in the house already, now that I know that the lady died of
the small-pox.'

"Well, Miss Barbara went away after breakfast and remained for two or
three hours, when she returned, a servant bringing the baby with her.
My daughter had packed up everything, and in half-an-hour they were on
the road back, the baby with them in my daughter's arms. Now, you see,
if it had not been for the accidental remark of the doctor's in your
aunt's presence, she would have been completely deceived by Miss
Barbara, and never would have known whose child it was; but your aunt
kept her own counsel; indeed, she was afraid to do otherwise.

"`As they went home, Miss Barbara talked a great deal to your aunt,
telling her that this Mrs Bedingfield was a great friend of hers, with
whom she had corresponded for years after they had left school; that her
husband had been killed in a duel a short time before, that he was a
gambler, and a man of very bad character, nevertheless she had promised
Mrs Bedingfield before she died, that she would take care of the child,
and that she would do so. She then said, "Martha, I should like your
mother to take charge of it, do you think that she would? but it must be
a secret, for my father would be very angry with me, and besides, there
might be unpleasant reports." Your aunt replied, "that she thought that
her mother would," and then Miss Barbara proposed that your aunt should
get out of the c