ch from Julia Vivian a few days
back? But the earnest desire to do that poor outcast creature good had
evidently got possession of her, and so the three turned their horses'
heads in the direction in which the actress was walking. But the object
of their loving pursuit had now quickened her pace, and turned up a by-
street before they could come up with her. Should they follow? Some
impulse urged them forward. The side street led to a square or large
open piece of ground, in the centre of which was erected a temporary
theatre. The woman whom they were following was just about to enter
this building, but turned about and looked back before doing so. Her
eyes met those of Julia, and she at once recognised her with a peculiar
smile, which sent the blood rushing back to Julia's heart, and made her
for the moment half resolve to turn and fly from the place. But she
resisted the feeling and held her ground. The next moment the woman had
entered the theatre. The little party lingered for a few moments, and
then the theatre door again opened, and several persons in various stage
dresses came out and gazed on the newcomers. Then they began to wink at
one another as they stared at Julia, and to break out into a broad grin.
How earnestly did the object of their curiosity and merriment long to
rush away out of the reach of those mocking eyes and sneering lips! Yet
she did not move. A purpose was coming into her heart; she might never
have such an opportunity again. Yet how weak she felt in herself. But
then she lifted up her heart in prayer to the Strong One, and, turning
with blanched face, but perfect calmness, to her brothers, asked them to
help her to dismount, and then, leaving her horse's reins in Walter's
hands, advanced towards a group of some dozen persons of different ages
who had come out of the theatre to gaze and to make merry.

"You know me, I see," she said, in a voice sweet and sad, but clear as a
bell in its utterances, "and I know you. You knew my poor husband in
times gone by, but not lately. He is dead; and your time must come too.
He was pointed to that Saviour who alone can make a death-bed happy,
and I _hope_ he was able to see him. His last words were, `God be
merciful to me a sinner.' You and I shall probably never meet again. I
have gone back to my early home, and wish to forget the past, but I
could not see Jenny Farleigh go by without wishing to say a kind word to
her, and this has bro