ffected
it all the more because he had brooded over it in silence, and never
spoken to any one upon the subject. Once Hannah attempted to say
something to him, but he had repulsed her so fiercely that she never
tried again, and he did not guess what efforts Grey had made to find
the rightful heirs of Joel Rogers. Like his wife, he did not object to
Grey's engagement. Bessie was a desirable _parti_, as she would, in all
probability, inherit her aunt's large fortune, and he signified his
approval; and in all Boston there was not a happier man than Grey, on
the morning when, with his Aunt Hannah, he at last started for
Allington, telling her when he bade her good-by at the station that he
should bring Bessie to her early the following day.

It was a most lovely October morning when Grey drove Bessie through the
rocky lane in the pasture land up to the old house, of which he had told
her on Christmas Eve, at Stoneleigh, almost two years ago, and which
seemed neither new nor strange to Bessie, so strong an impression had
his description made upon her.

"There she is; that is Aunt Hannah," Grey said, as a tall, slender
woman, in a plain black dress, came to the open door and stood waiting
for them.

"And I should have known her, too. What a sad face it is, just as if
there was a history hidden under it." Bessie said, and Grey replied, as
be lifted her from the phaeton:

"There is a history hidden there, and sometime I will tell it to you."

Then leading her to his aunt he said:

"Auntie, I have brought you Bessie."

"Yes," Hannah answered, with a gasp, as her cold hands were clasped by
the soft, warm ones of the young girl, who looked up at her curiously,
wondering at her manner.

At sight of Bessie, Hannah had been startled by the likeness to the
picture hidden away so many years, every feature of which was indelibly
stamped upon her memory. Had that picture taken life and form, and was
it confronting her now? It seemed so, and for an instant she grew cold
and faint, and stood staring at the girl.

"Auntie, won't you kiss Bessie?" Grey said, and then the spell was
broken, and taking the girl in her arms, Hannah kissed and cried over
her as a fond mother cries over the child which has been lost and is
restored to her again.

Hannah could not define to herself the feeling which took possession of
her from the moment she saw Bessie standing there in the low,
old-fashioned room, with the October sunshine falling on