nerves. Her hands were shaking, her
lips were tremulous, and her face, as she entered the room, became
perfectly white.

"You'll excuse me, ma'am," she said. "I'm most sorry to trouble you,
but I'm that anxious, I scarce know what I'm doing. I undertook a
railway journey--which I don't think right--and I came here through
most crowded streets in a dreadful vehicle, for I just wanted to ask
you a single question, ma'am."

"Sit down, my poor woman," said Mrs. Ellsworthy, who, the moment she
looked at Hannah, began to have a dim sort of idea that she had seen
her before, and also became full of pity for her. "Sit down. How you
tremble! I am sorry to see you are so nervous."

"Nervous, ma'am!" echoed Hannah. "That I should hear that said of me!
No, ma'am, it ain't nervous I am, but I'm rather worried with the
tremblings during the last few hours. I've come to ask you a plain
question, ma'am, plain and direct. It's about the young man Mr. Noel.
Have he, ma'am, or have he not, a mole on his left arm? I'd like yes
or no, ma'am."

"A mole on his left arm!" echoed Mrs. Ellsworthy. "My good woman, what
a very extraordinary question; you really quite startle me. Has Arthur
Noel a mole on his left arm? Yes, of course he has; I used to notice
it when he was a child. I suppose people don't outgrow moles, so he
probably has it still. Why, Mrs. Martin--I am told your name is
Martin--how very white you are. Would you--would you like a glass of
wine?"

"Thank you, ma'am--no wine, thank you, ma'am. I'm a bit upset. Yes,
I'm a bit upset, for I believe Mr. Arthur Noel is my long-lost baby."

The footman downstairs had given Mrs. Martin careful directions not to
occupy more than a moment or two of his mistress's valuable time; but
though he waited on the stairs and lingered about in the
entrance-hall, no bell summoned him to show out this remarkable
visitor. An hour passed away, an hour and a half, and still Mrs.
Martin remained in close conversation with Mrs. Ellsworthy. At the end
of the hour and a half Henry looked earnestly at the clock, sighed,
and felt that it was his duty to go into the room to let Mrs.
Ellsworthy know that she would be late for her dinner-party. He found
that good lady sitting by her writing-table with very flushed cheeks
and tearful eyes, and Hannah standing in quite a familiar attitude by
her side.

"Give this note to Mr. Ellsworthy when he comes in, Henry, and order
the carriage to be brought round direc