lost sight of them--you have not been as kind as you generally
are to people in difficulties, for I never met three more absolutely
friendless girls than these."

"It was a good Providence sent me here this morning," said Noel. "You
are quite right, Miss Egerton; I did lose sight of the children. I
tried to follow them, but they managed to hide themselves most
effectually. Think of my coming up to see you this morning, with a
message from Mrs. Ellsworthy, and finding that our lost lambs are all
but safe in your kind fold. How relieved my dear mother-friend will
be!"

"Mrs. Ellsworthy is the kindest and best of women," said Miss Egerton;
"I will receive your message presently, Arthur, but you puzzle me more
and more when you tell me that she too knows my girls. I came across
them quite accidentally. They called to ask me to give Jasmine lessons
in English composition, and I took a fancy to them, and, in
particular, felt drawn to the little one--for she reminded me of--,
but no matter! The girls have been in and out of my house ever since.
I saw that they were fearfully independent, but in many trivial ways I
tried to help them. Well, Arthur, it is most surprising--it is
altogether incomprehensible, but never during the months we have been
seeing each other daily have they alluded to you or the Ellsworthys.
They seemed perfectly unconstrained, and chatted many times of their
cottage home in the country, but they never spoke of the Ellsworthys."

"They would not be likely to do," answered Noel. "I think, Miss
Egerton, I must now tell you Mrs. Ellsworthy's and my side of the
story."

Certainly Miss Egerton appeared to neglect her duties that morning;
fortunately, her school had not yet re-opened, but Bridget waited for
orders, and the tradesman left the house unattended to. Bridget knew
that Miss Egerton was always greatly taken up with Mr. Noel, and she
had to admit that he was a bonny-looking young man with a pleasant
face; but Bridget hitherto had given her mistress credit for always
putting duty before pleasure. What, therefore, did her present neglect
of household management mean?

Arthur Noel had a long story to tell, and Miss Egerton listened,
weighing each point, and not giving too undue sympathy to either
party. Noel was of course enthusiastic in Mrs. Ellsworthy's cause, and
announced his intention of going to see her that very day.

"She is in town," he said; "and if you give me the girls' address I
can br