Crump was in the kitchen, busy in preparations f

unt Rachel, there's somebody at the door;

chel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat. "Nobody s

l woman, dressed in a gown of some dark stuff, w

of the house?" inq

said Rachel. "You've come to the wrong p

oesn't make any difference about na

," said Rach

me to your mi

ave

ashed, as if her temp

d, impatiently. "Will you call her,

t," muttered Rachel. "Stay here

Mrs. Crump pre

e in?" she ask

the reply. "I wish to speak

st was excited, led the

id the stranger, after seatin

ously. Could it be that the secret of

" she

not your

hom I have always taught to

s of her that I wis

f her parentage?" inqui

se," said the

. It was a relief at least to know, though she could hardly ha

re her

itted to tell,

looked di

dden sinking of heart, "you h

ng you," said the woman, drawing a sealed env

sly broke open the lette

. CR

ive circumstances would have led me to such a step. Those circumstances still prevent me from reclaiming the child, and I am content, still, to leave Ida in your charge. Yet, there is one thing of which I am desirous. You will understand a mother's desire to see, face to face, the child who belongs, of right, to her. With this view, I have come to this neighborhood. I will not say where, for concealm

S MOT

elled her to resort to such a step; a half feeling of jealousy, that there should be one who had a claim to her dear adopted daughter superior to

da's nurse," s

e stranger. "I hope t

her mother must have suf

so, ma'am. It came ne

I would like to ask," she continued, hesitating and reddening. "

," answered

mind which would now and then intrude, though it had nev

, the cooper entered the house. H

ning to her visitor, by way of explanati

stened to introduce her as Mrs. Hardwick, Ida's nurse, and handed to

through the letter. He laid it down on his knee, and looked

. May I ask, Mrs. Hardwick, if you have any further proof. I want to be prudent with a chi

d be sufficient," said the nurs

be sure that the wri

r, sir. Would anybody

the letter?" said

to me, befo

y-

f the dear child of whom you have taken such (sic) excelent care, I don't mind telling you that I was the one who le

at enabled you to fi

then living in this house, but in another, some

aim. You must pardon my testing you in such a manner, but I was not willing to yield up I

you in the least. I shall report it to Ida's mot

Ida to go with you

her go this

ve a chance to wash out some clothes for her. I want her

rse he

you will let me know when she wi

her ready early t

xcellently. I will

and gathered her

, Mrs. Hardwick?" as

el," was

is a pity if we cannot accommodate Ida's old nurse

d the cooper; "we must insist

she would have preferred to be elsewhere, but a remark wh

s to go with you, she ought to have a little ch

tation," she said; "but I am

u here. If you will excuse me now, I will go out and atte

singular. She rose from her seat, and approached the mirror. She took a

to her own reflection, saying,

ooper, who was passing throu

ardly. "I believe I said something

cy the woman's looks, but I dare say I am p

day meal, she imparted to Rachel the astonishing infor

word of it," said

w she was the very first

al importance to it. Rachel, of course, had no grounds for the opinion she so confide

she have in inven

indefinitely. "Mark my words, if you let her carry

hel. Nothing is more natural than th

e come herself?"

tter ex

see that

me reasons exist for

ld like to know? I don't l

at any rate, since they ena

r head, as if she we

ought to invite Mrs. Hardwick in here. I

anging her mind, suddenly, "Yes, you may bring her i

. "Mrs. Hardwick," said she, "this

our acquaintance, ma

ertain Mrs. Hardwick," said Mrs. Crum

e eyed each other w

entertain anybody again. This is a world of trial and tribulation, and I've h

's request," s

s to see

, ma

," said Aunt Rachel, sharply. "She's go

that cannot be explaine

said Rachel, dryly. "S

wick, who evidently did not

d with the mot

rse. "Some of the time," sh

chel, darting a sh

living?" inquired Ra

Mrs. Hardwic

nor dead. I'm thankful to say I never married. I've had tri

ll you," sa

don't like

If you have any objection to make agains

was gifted with the best of tempers, and perhaps it was as w