It was coming, then, the thing he had suspected so long, and which he
never had wished to learn, and Burton Jerrold breathed hard as he said:

"But surely, Hannah, if there are family secrets to be told, I am the
one to hear them, and not a stranger. Mr. Sanford can have no interest
in our affairs."

"I could not help it, brother," Hannah said, mildly. "I tried to
dissuade him, but he would not listen, and Mr. Sanford is not like a
stranger to us."

She turned her dark eyes full of tears upon the clergyman, who gave her
back an answering glance which her brother did not observe, and would
not have comprehended if he had.

"Yes, Hannah," Mr. Sanford said, "you can trust me; be the secret one of
life or death, it is safe with me as with you." And he gave her his hand
by way of affirmation.

And Hannah took the offered hand and held fast to it as a drowning man
holds to a straw, while the tears ran like rain down her pale face.

"Hannah! Burton! Are you there, and the minister? There is no time to
lose," came feebly from the sick-room, and Hannah said:

"He is calling us; go to him, please. I will join you in a minute."

Then she hurried to the summer kitchen, where she found Sam, who thought
his work done, and was removing his boots preparatory to going to bed.