fatal passion.

"Whatever it may have been, I have nothing to do with it. I pity the
gentle lady, but I cannot accept her bounty for Nora's child," said
Hannah, dismissing the subject from her thoughts and returning to her
work.

In this manner, from one plausible motive or another, was all help
rejected for the orphan boy.

It seemed as if Providence were resolved to cast the infant helpless
upon life, to show the world what a poor boy might make of himself, by
God's blessing on his own unaided efforts!




CHAPTER XVIII.

BERENICE.

Her cheeks grew pale and dim her eye,
Her voice was low, her mirth was stay'd;
Upon her heart there seemed to lie
The darkness of a nameless shade;
She paced the house from room to room,
Her form became a walking gloom.

--_Read_.