wn beside her and talked to her of America, and she told
him that she was not going to be a burden to her aunt, or even a guest
very long, but to work and earn money with which to pay her debts. And
Grey let her do most of the talking, and even promised, if he did not
succeed in Allington, to see if he could find something for her to do in
in Boston.

"I am very sure that I could find you a situation there if I tried," he
said, with a merry look in his eyes which was lost on Bessie, whose
thick vail was over her face, and who was gazing off upon the waves
bearing her so fast toward the strange land to which she was going.

The next day she was able to walk the deck for some hours with Grey as
her attendant; and when, at last, land was in sight, she seemed almost
as well and bright as ever as she stood looking eagerly upon either
shore, and declaring America beautiful as a picture. It had been
arranged that she should stop for a few hours at the hotel with Miss
Lucy and Grey, and then go on with them to Allington. But their plans
were changed when they reached the wharf, for there they were met by a
messenger who had been sent from Mr. Burton Jerrold with the
intelligence that Grey's mother was very ill, and that Lucy must come at
once with Grey without stopping at her own home.

"I am sorry, for I wished to take you to your aunt myself," Lucy said
to Bessie, adding after a moment, "but I will give you a letter of
introduction, if you like."

"No, thank you," Bessie replied; "I would rather go to her alone, so
that if she is kind I shall know it is to me, and not to you, or because
she thinks it will please you."

"No danger of that," Grey said, laughingly; "she is a great stickler for
the naked truth, as she expresses it, and all the Aunt Lucys in the
world could not make her say she liked you if she did not. She is a
singular specimen, but she is sure to like you, and if she does not, go
to my Aunt Hannah; she would welcome you as a Godsend. She is the auntie
who lives in the pasture-land. I shall soon come to Allington and see
you," he added, as he bade her good-by, for he and his aunt were to take
the express, which did not stop at Allington, and she was to take the
accommodation, which did.

He had made all the arrangements for her, and seen that her baggage was
checked and her ticket bought; but still she felt very desolate and
helpless when he left her and she was alone with Jennie, who staid by
her to the