by firelight and gaslight, by all the visible signs and audible sounds
of sincere pleasure in his advent. Mr. Lanhearne had a new periodical
to discuss, and Ada, though unusually grave, lifted her still face
with the smile of welcome on it.

She had, however, an evident anxiety, and Mr. Lanhearne probably
divined its origin, for after dinner was over he said: "Ada, I saw
your little missionary here, late. Is there anything very wrong?"

"I was just going to tell you, father. Mr. Tresham may listen also, it
can do him no harm. Mrs. Dodge came to tell me of a most distressing
case. She was visiting an old patient in a large tenement, and the
woman told her to call at the room directly above her. As she went
away she did so. It was only four o'clock then, but in that place
quite dark. When she reached the door she heard a voice praying--heard
a voice thanking God amid sobs and tears--oh, father, what for? For
the death of her baby! Crying out in a passion of gratitude because it
was released from hunger and cold and suffering!"

Mr. Lanhearne covered his face, and Roland looked at Ada with his
large eyes troubled and misty. The girl was speechless for a moment or
two, and Roland watched her sympathetic face and saw tears drop upon
her clasped hands. Then she resumed: "Mrs. Dodge entered softly. The
mother was sitting on a chair with her dead baby across her knees.
There was no fire, no candle in the room, but the light from an
oil-lamp in a near window fell upon the white faces of the mother and
her dead child. There is no need to tell you that Mrs. Dodge quickly
made a fire, cooked the poor famished creature a meal, and then
prepared the dead child for its burial. But she says the mother is
distracted because she cannot buy it a grave and a coffin. I have
promised to do that; you will help me, father? I know you will."

"To be sure I will, Ada. To be sure, my dear one! I will help gladly.
Has the poor, sorrowful woman no husband to comfort her in this
extremity?"

"She says he is dead. Her history is a little out of the common. She
is an English woman and was a public singer. The name she is known by
is Mademoiselle Denasia--but that, of course, is not her real name."

A quick, sharp cry broke from Roland's lips. He was grey as
ashes. He trembled visibly and stood up, though his emotion
compelled him instantly to reseat himself. He was on the point of
losing consciousness. Mr. Lanhearne and Ada looked at him with
a