y at all. I know my father
too well to fear a refusal from him. I will go back to South Audley
Street and speak to him and my mother, and to-morrow you shall know
their answer; but you must promise me one thing before I go--that, if
they consent, you will let me have Mollie.'

'She will be happier with you than in the convent,' replied Mrs. Blake,
in a musing tone. 'After all, it would have been a dull existence for
her, poor child!' There was a touch of motherliness in her voice as she
spoke. 'Yes, you shall have her. I think my boy would have wished it.'

And Audrey's grateful kiss sealed the compact.

'But there is something else I must say,' continued Mrs. Blake, when
they had talked a little more about Mollie--at least, Audrey had talked.
'I want you to give Mat a message from me.'

'Mr. O'Brien!'

'Yes, my husband. Have I not told you that I have humbled myself to the
dust? Before I leave the world I would make my peace even with him. Will
you give him my message?'

'Assuredly I will.'

'Tell him that I have repented at last, and that I would fain have his
forgiveness--that I know now that I had no right to rob him of his
children. If the time came over again--but no; how can I tell whether
things would have been different? Mat would always have been Mat, and I
could not alter my own nature. Oh, if I had only been good like you,
Audrey!' she sighed bitterly.

'You must not talk any more,' observed Audrey, alarmed by the look of
utter exhaustion on the wan face. 'Shall I leave you now to rest a
little?'

'Rest?' Audrey never forgot the tone in which the unhappy woman uttered
the word. 'How can one rest on such a pillow of thorns? No; the time is
too short. I must be up and about my work. Will you bid me good-bye,
now? After to-day we shall not meet again. You shall write to me about
Mollie; but this interview has exhausted me, and I must husband my
strength.'

'If I could only comfort you!'

The sad yearning in Audrey's voice seemed to touch Mrs. Blake, and as
the girl clung to her she pressed her to her bosom.

'God bless you for all your goodness to him and to me! Every day I live
I shall pray for you.' Her voice broke; with a sudden impulse she kissed
her again and again, then pushed her gently from her. 'Go, go!' she said
faintly, 'and send Biddy to me.' And Audrey dared not linger.

But she looked quite white and shaken when she rejoined Michael; she
could scarcely speak to Mollie, and she see