ived your letter, Ellen, and was hastening to you, when--but no
matter I will tell my story afterwards."

"Day after day I waited with anxiety for a letter, and then wrote to the
officers of the ship to know if any accident had occurred. I received
an answer from the surgeon, informing me that you had quitted Portsmouth
to join me, and had not since been heard of. You may imagine my
distress at this communication, as I did not doubt but that something
dreadful had occurred, as I know, too well, that nothing would have
detained you from me at such a time. The new vicar appointed, had come
down to look over the house, and to make arrangements for bringing in
his family. The furniture he had previously agreed to take at a
valuation, and the sum had been appropriated in liquidation of our
father's debts. I had already been permitted to remain longer than was
usual, and had no alternative but to quit, which I did not do until the
last moment. I could not leave my address, for I knew not where I was
to go. I took my place in the coach, and arrived in London. My first
object was to secure the means of livelihood, by offering myself as a
governess; but I found great difficulties from not being able to procure
a good reference, and from not having already served in that capacity.
At last I was taken into a family to bring up three little girls; but I
soon found out how little chance I had of comfort. The lady had
objected to me as too good-looking--for this same reason the gentleman
insisted upon my being engaged.

"Thus was I a source of disunion--the lady treated me with great
harshness, and the gentleman with too much attention. At last, her
ill-treatment, and his persecution, were both so intolerable, that I
gave notice that I should leave my situation."

"I beg your pardon, Miss Ellen, but will you oblige me with the name and
residence of that gentleman?" said O'Brien.

"Indeed, Ellen, do no such thing," replied I; "continue your story."

"At last I was engaged as teacher to a school. I had better have taken
a situation as housemaid. I was expected to be everywhere, to do
everything--was up at daylight, and never in bed till past midnight:
fared very badly, and was equally ill-paid--but still it was honest
employment, and I remained there for more than a year; but, though as
economical as possible, my salary would not maintain me in clothes and
washing, which was all I required. There was a master of elocut