east were seeking, by the wonder they expressed, for the cause of
it.

"May the name," she exclaimed, "of the just and merciful God be praised
forever! Here, my darling, is a note, in which I am informed upon the
best authority, that my child--my boy, is yet alive--and was seen but
very recently. Dear God of all goodness, is my weak and worn heart
capable of bearing this returning tide of happiness!"

Nature, however, gave way; and after several struggles and throbbings,
she sank into insensibility. To ring for assistance, to apply all kinds
of restoratives; and to tend her until she revived, and afterwards, were
offices which Lucy discharged with equal promptitude and tenderness.

On recovering, she took the hand of the latter in hers, and said, with
a smile full of gratitude, joy, and sweetness, "Our first thanks are
always due to God, and to him my heart offers them up; but, oh, how
feebly! Thanks to you, also, Lucy, for your kindness; and many thanks
for your goodness in giving me the pleasure of knowing you. I trust that
we shall both see and enjoy better and happier days. Your visit has been
propitious to me, and brought, if I may so say, an unexpected dawn of
happiness to the widowed mother's heart."

Lucy was about to reply, when the old footman came to say that the lady
who had accompanied her was waiting below in the chaise. She accordingly
bade her farewell, only for a time she said, and after a tender embrace,
she went down to Mrs. Mainwaring who respectfully declined on that
occasion to be presented to Lady Gourlay, in consequence of the number
of purchases she had yet to make, and the time it would occupy to make
them.

CHAPTER XXVIII. Innocence and Affection overcome by Fraud and Hypocrisy

--Lucy yields at Last.

Not many minutes after Mrs. Mainwaring's interview with the baronet,
Gibson entered the library, and handed him a letter on which was stamped
the Ballytrain postmark. On looking at it, he paused for a moment:

"Who the d------ can this come from?" he said. "I am not aware of having
any particular correspondence at present, in or about Ballytrain. Here,
however, is a seal; let me see what it is. What the d------, again? are
these a pair of asses' ears or wings? Certainly, if the impression
be correct, the former; and what is here? A fox. Very good, perfectly
intelligible; a fox, with a pair of asses' ears upon him! intimating a
combination of knavery and folly. 'Gad, this must be