tainly
show them lenity, but I wish first to hear your story, and then I shall
know how to proceed. So, Sir Robert, if you will please to detain these
people till to-morrow, I shall esteem it a favour.'

We then took our leave, and returned home in my father's carriage, and
was soon conveyed to that house where the day before I had stood as a
poor little pedlar, but which I now entered as the only child of the
Earl of Malbourne.

[Illustration: _Lady Anne finds her father.--Page 405._]

We proceeded to the drawing-room, and my father then informed me that
the lady who had shown me so much kindness was his sister, Lady Caroline
Beaumont. The young lady, who appeared about thirteen, was my cousin,
Miss Beaumont; and another young lady, who seemed about eleven, was also
my cousin, Miss Ellen Beaumont.

Refreshments were now brought, and my father and aunt, when they
understood that I had been up the whole night, insisted that I should go
to bed, and try to get a little rest before dinner, which I did, and in
about two hours arose very much refreshed.

In the course of the evening I gave my father and new-found relations a
circumstantial detail of everything that had happened to me as far back
as I could remember. When I gave the account of my mother's death at the
inn they were affected even to tears.

'Oh! how unfortunate was I to be out of England at that time,' said my
father; 'and how cruel was my father by his resentment and ambition thus
to occasion the death of the most amiable of women. But proceed, my
child, with your melancholy story, and afterwards I will tell you mine,
and explain circumstances of which you seem to have some recollection.'

I accordingly went on, and finished my narrative, by which time it was
so late, and I was so much exhausted, that my father said he would defer
his narration till the following day.

My aunt and cousins were extremely kind to me, and, when I retired to
bed, I was furnished with night-clothes from Miss Beaumont's wardrobe.

* * * * *

[_On the next day the Sharpleys, on their promising never to steal
again, were released, and later Sir Robert told Lady Anne the story of
her life._]

* * * * *

'It is a painful story, my dear child,' said he; 'and I must spare your
feelings by relating it as briefly as I can. Your mother was of a very
good family, and, during the earlier part of her youth, her parents