"Poor dear Elsie! what has become of her? Do you know her, sir?" she
continued, turning to the clergyman.

"The girl on whose behalf I am inquiring is called Elsie, and it seems
probable she was your friend's daughter."

"I must tell you, sir, who _our Elsie_ was," said her ladyship, who had
caught and did not like the word "friend." "She had been my maid; but
we found her so conscientious, nice-mannered, and well-informed, that
she almost occupied the position of nursery governess to the younger
children. We were all very much attached to her, and when she married
we gave her a watch, which Lady Eleanor supposes must be the same as
this. The marriage was not a happy one, and we opposed it as long as
we could. After some time she went to India, and thence I think to
China, with her husband. For many years we have heard nothing of her,
though I think we fancied we saw his name among those lost in a
terrible shipwreck some years ago. It was a sad story altogether.
Poor Elsie! Do you remember how anxious we used to be about her,
girls?"

"It was only the other day I was thinking of her, and wondering what
had become of the little baby. You know I was its god-mother, and she
was called after me."

"Yes, indeed, I had forgotten," said Lady Waterham; "but perhaps, sir,
you would kindly tell us what you know about our former protegee."

Mr. Smith told the sad tale with which our readers are acquainted as
briefly as he could. At the end there was a pause, and then her
ladyship said--

"Poor foolish girl! She would not take my advice, and I foresaw that
her end would not be happy."

"Our poor dear Elsie!" said Lady Constance, her eyes overflowing. "It
was a sad day for her when she first saw that horrid man Damer; her
head was quite turned afterwards."

"At all events my baby godchild is living, and a credit to me
apparently," said Lady Eleanor.

"And the boy?" said the clergyman.

There was a pause. The Ladies Constance and Eleanor looked at each
other, and then at their mother.

"I have not mentioned the boy," said her ladyship; "but that is the
most painful part of the subject. He is not Elsie's brother at all;
and what is worse, it was never exactly known who he was. About four
months after the marriage a poor woman came to the village. She said
her name was Damer, and inquired for Elsie's husband. He was very much
put out by her appearance, but at once took a lodging for her, where
the poor t