a. You would not inquire for her while supposing her in your own
possession. But we took one precaution--that of giving her the name of
Caroline, which was sure to prevent inquiry. After that she was known
as Caroline Yates, and, until my son's death, thought herself his child.
I never lived with them after that, but saw her from time to time,
though she never noticed me or knew of the interest I took in her; but,
year by year, I saw her grow up, until my son died. Then I lost all
knowledge of her.

"One day I was free to look for this dear child, and went to the cottage
where my son's will had secured her a home. It was empty. She had gone
away with some singing woman and a person named Brown, who had been her
music-teacher.

"The woman had claimed to be her mother, and was known on the stage as
Olympia."

"Go on! go on!" exclaimed Lord Hope; "I am listening."

The two girls in the window were listening also. As they understood this
story more and more clearly, their arms tightened around each other and
a look of unutterable affection beamed upon their faces; but that of the
girl known as Lady Clara glowed with a look of generous self-abnegation,
while her companion was troubled, and almost sad.

"Go on! go on!"

"I left America at once on learning this, bringing Lady Hope's papers
and Lady Carset's jewels with me. Olympia was in England, and, no doubt,
your daughter was with her. First I came here, and gave up the trust
that had become a heavy, heavy burden. Then I went in search of my young
lady. The time had come when she might claim her title and her rights,
without violating her mother's directions. After much search, I found
Olympia's house, and inquired for the person known as her daughter. She
told me herself, and with bitter anger, that she had no daughter. I
knew the woman, and attempted to make her comprehend that I wished to
find the young lady for her own good; but this flung her into a passion
of rage, and she ordered me from the house. Then followed an attempt to
bribe me. Still I kept up the search, and at last traced the girl they
called Caroline Brown to this neighborhood."

"To this neighborhood!" exclaimed Lord Hope. "Where? where?"

"My lord, up to this time you have only the word of an old woman, who
has suffered under great reproach for all this. I know that the identity
of a nobleman's child and the transfer of a great inheritance cannot be
so proven. But here is the letter, which Lady