She had never before heard of the street mentioned in Virginia's last
letter, and her heart misgave her as to its being one of the most
fashionable for the abodes of the wealthy. The curiously scrutinizing look
and odd smile of the hack-driver when she gave him the address did not
tend to reassure her.

"Drive me there as quickly as you can," she ordered, drawing herself up
and flashing an indignant glance at him. "I have no time to waste."

"Sure, mum, I'll do that same," he returned, touching his horses with the
whip.

"Where are you taking me? What do you mean by bringing me into such a vile
region as this?" she demanded presently, as the hack turned into a narrow
and very dirty street.

"It's the shortest cut to the place ye said ye wanted to go till, mum," he
answered shortly.

She sank back with a sigh and closed her eyes for a moment. She was very
weary with her long journey and more depressed than she had ever been in
her life before.

The drive seemed the longest and most unpleasant she had ever undertaken;
she began to wish she had been content to sail for Europe without trying
to find Virginia. But at last the vehicle stopped, the driver reached down
from his seat and opened the door.

His passenger put out her head, glanced this way and that, scanned the