e neighboring families. Her closest attention,
however, centred upon those affecting the Hastings' race; and she found
the whole strange story of the cottage girl confirmed, with many another
particular added. She smiled when she heard this--smiled blandly--it
seemed to give her pleasure. She would fain have called upon the girl
and her mother too. She longed to do so, and to draw forth with skill,
of which she possessed no small share, the key secret of the whole. But
her station, her reputation, prevented her from taking a step which she
knew might be noised abroad and create strange comments.

She resolved upon another move, however, which she thought would do as
well. There would be no objection to her visiting her poorer neighbors,
to comfort, to relieve; and she went to the huts of many. At length one
early morning, on a clear autumn day, the carriage was left below on the
high road, and the lady climbed the hill alone towards the cottage,
where the girl and her parents formerly lived. She found the old woman,
who was now its occupant, busily cooking her morning meal; and sitting
down, she entered into conversation with her. At first she could obtain
but little information; the old woman was in a sullen mood, and would
not speak of any thing she did not like. Money was of no avail to unlock
her eloquence.

She had never asked or taken charity, the old woman said, and now she
did not need it.

The lady pondered for a few minutes, considering the character of her
ancient hostess, trying it by her experience and intuition; and thus she
boldly asked her for the whole history of young John Hastings and the
cottage girl.

"Tell me all," she said, "for I wish to know it--I have an interest in
it."

"Ay?" said the old woman, gazing at her, "then you are the pretty lady
Sir Philip was to have married, but would not have her?"

"The same," replied the visitor, and for an instant a bright red spot
arose upon her cheek--a pang like a knife passed through her heart.

That was the price she paid for the gratification of her curiosity. But
it probably was gratified, for she stayed nearly an hour and a half in
the cottage--so long, indeed, that her servants, who were with the
carriage, became alarmed, and one of the footmen walked up the hill. He
met his lady coming down.

"Poor thing," she said, as if speaking of the old woman she had just
left, "her senses wander a little; but she is poor, and has been much
persecuted