broken through her rule of secrecy; and we even hoped that when we
saw her again, she might go a step farther, and throw off the veil
entirely.

On calling at her lodgings, however, the next day, we learned that
the lodger had decamped, after placing in the landlady's hand the
solatium of another week's rent, as specified in the agreement--a
week's notice or a week's money. Thus, for the space of
five-and-twenty years, every now and then, did the Mysterious Lady
turn up. Whenever we left home on a visit, we were sure, on our
return, to find a card on the table, inscribed with the mystical
characters--'Miss Jerningham.' No message left, no address given.
The last time we ever saw her was in Hyde Park, walking arm-in-arm
with her brother the general; and soon after we heard from the
worthy veteran, that 'Bessie had gone on her travels again.'

If Miss Jerningham has really ceased to exist, her end was as
mysterious and uncertain as the movements of her life. We say if,
because we feel by no means sure on the subject, and should neither
faint nor scream if she were to enter the apartment at this moment.
It is about five years since General Jerningham set hurriedly off,
in considerable dismay, for the scene of a direful conflagration in
a northern county, wherein several unfortunate individuals had
perished. The fire originated at a hotel, and the General had
reasons for fearing that his sister might be among the number of the
sufferers, for she was known to have followed that route. A
notification likewise had appeared in the public prints, respecting
an unknown lady, whose remains awaited the coroner's inquest, but
afforded no clue whatever to recognition.