expecting him; but at last--four days after her little girl was born--
came the news of the Ninon having been burnt, with all on board,
three months before. Do you know, strange to say, though I had
feared so much to tell her, she began to revive from that time. The
suspense and watching were over. She saw that he had not deserted
her, and believed that he had loved her to the last. She cried a
great deal, but it was in a peaceful, natural way. I wrote then, as
I had already written, to Lady Adelaide and to Mr. Egremont, but was
not answered.'

'I can account for that,' said Lady Kirkaldy. 'My sister had been
ordered to Madeira in the autumn, and there they remained till her
death in May. All the letters were sent to my mother, and she did
not think fit to forward, or open, any bearing on the subject. In
the meantime Mr. Egremont was presented to the family living, and on
his return moved to Bridgefield Egremont. And you came here?'

'Of course I could not part with my poor Alice again. Mr. and Mrs.
Fordyce, whose daughter I had long ago educated, had always kept up a
correspondence with me, and, knowing all the story, proposed to me to
come here. He was then rector of the old church, and by their help
and recommendation, with such capital as I had, we were able to begin
a little school; and though that has had to give way to the High
School, what with boarders, and with Alice's employment as daily
governess, we have, I am thankful to say, gone on very well and
comfortably, and my dear child has recovered her cheerfulness, though
she can never be quite what--I think she was meant to be,' said the
old lady, with a sad smile, 'though perhaps she is something better.'

'Do you think she was absolutely convinced of his death?'