Berenice drank the wine and thanked the woman, and then said:

"I was very wrong to take up such fancies as I did; but then, you do not
know how strong the circumstances were that led me to such fancies. I am
glad and sorry and ashamed, all at once, Hannah! Glad to find my own and
my mother-in-law's suspicions all unfounded; sorry that I ever
entertained them against my dear husband; and ashamed--oh, how much
ashamed--that I ever betrayed them to anyone."

"You were seeking to do him a service, my lady, when you did so," said
Hannah remorsefully and compassionately.

"Yes, indeed I was! And then I was not quite myself! Oh, I have suffered
so much in my short life, Hannah! And I met such a cruel disappointment
on my arrival here! But there! I am talking too much again! Hannah, I
entreat you to forget all that I have said to you. And if you cannot
forget it, I implore you most earnestly never to repeat it to anyone."

"I will not indeed, madam."

The Countess of Hurstmonceux arose and walked to the bed, turned down
the shawl that covered the sleeping child, and gazed pitifully upon him.
Hannah did not now seek to prevent her.

"Oh, poor little fellow, how feeble he looks! Hannah, it seems such a
pity that all the plans I formed for his future welfare should be lost
because he is not what I supposed him to be; it seems hard that the
revelation which has made me happy should make him unfortunate; or,
rather, that it should prevent his good fortune! And it shall not do so
entirely. It is true, I cannot now adopt him,--the child of a