to me frankly, and you will find that I have not changed my mind. I
shall always be glad to do anything in my power for this poor babe."

"I thank you, my lady; I thank you very much," said Hannah, without
committing herself to any promise.

What instinct was it that impelled the countess to stoop and kiss the
brow of the sleeping babe, and then to catch him up and press him fondly
to her heart? Who can tell?

The action awoke the infant, who opened his large blue eyes to the gaze
of the lady.

"Hannah, you need not think this boy is going to die. He is only a
skeleton; but in his strong, bright eyes there is no sign of death--but
certainty of life! Take the word of one who has the blood of a Hebrew
prophetess in her veins for that!" said Berenice, with solemnity.

"It will be as the Lord wills, my lady," Hannah reverently replied.

The countess laid the infant back upon the bed and then drew her sable
cloak around her shoulders, shook hands with Hannah, and departed.

Hannah Worth stood looking after the lady for some little space of time.
Hannah was an accurate reader of character, and she had seen at the
first glance that this pale, sad, but most beautiful woman could not be
the bad, artful, deceitful creature that her husband had been led to
believe and to represent her. And she wondered what mistake it could
possibly have been that had estranged Herman Brudenell from his lovely
wife and left his heart vacant for the reception of another and a most