in search of various articles of her dress,--a running flow of easy
talk came babbling out all the time.

'I have a little girl of my own, dear! I don't know what she would not
give to be staying here at Lord Cumnor's with me; but, instead of that,
she has to spend her holidays at school; and yet you are looking as
miserable as can be at the thought of stopping for just one night. I
really have been as busy as can be with those tiresome--those good
ladies, I mean, from Hollingford--and one can't think of everything at
a time.'

Molly--only child as she was--had stopped her tears at the mention of
that little girl of Mrs. Kirkpatrick's, and now she ventured to say,--

'Are you married, ma'am; I thought she called you Clare?'

In high good humour Mrs. Kirkpatrick made reply:--'I don't look as if I
was married, do I? Every one is surprised. And yet I have been a widow
for seven months now: and not a grey hair on my head, though Lady
Cuxhaven, who is younger than I, has ever so many.'

'Why do they call you "Clare"?' continued Molly, finding her so affable
and communicative.

'Because I lived with them when I was Miss Clare. It is a pretty name,
isn't it? I married a Mr. Kirkpatrick; he was only a curate, poor
fellow; but he was of a very good family, and if three of his relations
had died without children I should have been a baronet's wife. But
Providence did not see fit to permit it; and we must always resign
ourselves to what is decreed. Two of his cousins married, and had large