They must play their part
afterwards."

Thus communing with herself, she laid her hand upon the latch and opened
the door. In an attitude of unspeakable grief sat immediately before her
a young and exceedingly beautiful girl, of hardly seventeen years of
age. The wheel stood still by her side; the spindle had fallen from her
hands; her head was bowed down as with sorrow she could not bear up
against; and her eyes were dropping tears like rain.

The moment she heard the door open she started, and looked up with fear
upon her face, and strove to dash the tears from her eyes; but the old
woman bespoke her softly, saying, "Good even, my dear; is your mother in
the place?"

"No," replied the girl; "she has gone to sell the lint, and father is
out too. It is very lonely, and I get sad here."

"I do not wonder at it, poor child," said the old woman; "you have had a
heavy loss, my dear, and may well cry. You can't help what is past, you
know; but we can do a good deal for what is to come, if we but take care
and make up our minds in time."

Many and strange were the changes of expression which came upon the poor
girl's face as she heard these few simple words. At first her cheek
glowed hot, as with the burning blush of shame; then she turned pale and
trembled, gazing inquiringly in her visitor's face, as if she would have
asked, "Am I detected?" and then she cast down her eyes again, still
pale as ashes, and the tears rolled forth once more and fell upon her
lap.

The old woman sat down beside her, and talked to her tenderly; but,
alas! very cunningly too. She assumed far greater knowledge than she
possessed. She persuaded the poor girl that there was nothing to conceal
from her; and what neither father nor mother knew, was told that day to
one comparatively a stranger. Still the old woman spoke tenderly--ay,
very tenderly; excused her fault--made light of her fears--gave her
hope--gave her strength. But all the time she concealed her full
purpose. That was to be revealed by degrees. Whatever had been the
girl's errors, she was too innocent to be made a party to a scheme of
fraud and wrong and vengeance at once. All that the woman communicated
was blessed comfort to a bruised and bleeding heart; and the poor girl
leaned her head upon her old companion's shoulder, and, amidst bitter
tears and sobs and sighs, poured out every secret of her heart.

But what is that she says, which makes the old woman start with a look
of