k he will not deny the last request I may ever make of him. I will
not say farewell, my mother, because the gloom that is upon me in this
strange land may be only the homesickness of a heart separated from
those it loves. But, if this is given to you by my foster-mother, know
that a cloud of gloom has settled down upon me forever."

This much fell upon the ears of the countess as she held her breath and
listened.

When Hannah Yates folded the letter, she felt that a gleam of angry fire
broke into the eyes bent upon her.

"Yates," said the countess, sharply, "read the date of that letter."

The old servant read the date.

"Fourteen years and more! Why was that letter kept from me so long?"

"I could not bring it."

"I know you were not young even then, Yates; but your son, my own
protege! Surely, when my poor child gave you this charge, she gave money
also? Why was the child kept from me and sent to that man?"

"Yes, there was money; but my son could not come. We had no power to
bring her."

"Then Hope took her from you by force?" questioned the countess. "Where
is your son, Yates? He was wrong to permit it!"

"With my young lady."

"Dead! Then you, also, are childless?"

Hannah Yates remembered how the news of her bereavement had reached her
in that stone cell which was cold as a grave, and shuddered while the
lady in her palace questioned her. Then the old prison-look fell upon
her, and she sat motionless, with her eyes upon the floor, saying
nothing. How could she explain to that proud lady the bondage in which
she had been held?

"Ah! if you had come earlier," said the countess, "the child of my child
might have been here! That man would not have dared to keep her! She
would not have been taught to return my advances with insolence by his
evil wife."

"I _could_ not come before," repeated the old woman, humbly.

"And now it may be too late."

"God forbid!" said the old woman. "No! no! He will show me how to
complete my task. It is for that I have been kept alive."

"Yates, you are brave and faithful. I was wrong to question you so.
Forgive me, old servant."

Mrs. Yates took the child-like hand held out to her and pressed it to
her lips.

"I have tried, dear mistress."

"Go, now, old friend, and let me have time to think. Only this is
certain, we do not part again."

"Mistress, that cannot be. I have yet a task to perform. It may be many,
many miles to travel. When that is done, I will come