have suffered
so much in my short life, Hannah! And I met such a cruel disappointment
on my arrival here! But there! I am talking too much again! Hannah, I
entreat you to forget all that I have said to you. And if you cannot
forget it, I implore you most earnestly never to repeat it to anyone."

"I will not indeed, madam."

The Countess of Hurstmonceux arose and walked to the bed, turned down
the shawl that covered the sleeping child, and gazed pitifully upon him.
Hannah did not now seek to prevent her.

"Oh, poor little fellow, how feeble he looks! Hannah, it seems such a
pity that all the plans I formed for his future welfare should be lost
because he is not what I supposed him to be; it seems hard that the
revelation which has made me happy should make him unfortunate; or,
rather, that it should prevent his good fortune! And it shall not do so
entirely. It is true, I cannot now adopt him,--the child of a
stranger,--and take him home and rear him as my own, as I should have
done had he been what I fancied him to be. Because it might not be
right, you know, and my husband might not approve it. And, oh, Hannah, I
have grown so timid lately that I dread, I dread more than you can
imagine, to do anything that he might not like. Not that he is a
domestic tyrant either. You have lived on his estate long enough to know
that Herman Brudenell is all that is good and kind. But then you see I
am all wrong--and always was so. Everything I do is ill done--and always
so. It is all my own fault, and I must try to amend it, if ever I am to
hope for happiness. So I must not do anything unless I am sure that it
will not displease him, therefore I must not take this child of a
stranger home, and rear him as my own. But I will do all that I can for
him here. At present his little wants are all physical. Take this purse,
dear woman, and make him as comfortable as you can. I think he ought to
have medical attendance; procure it for him; get everything he needs;
and when the purse is empty bring it to me to be replenished. So much
for the present. If he lives I will pay for his schooling, and see that
he is apprenticed to some good master to learn a trade."

And with these words the countess held out a well-filled purse to
Hannah.

With a deep blush Hannah shook her head and put the offered bounty back,
saying:

"No, my lady, no. Nora's child must not become the object of your
charity. It will not do. My nephew's wants are few, and w