nurse."

"She did?"

"Yes."

"She must be an angel in disguise, then."

"So I should think," returned her friend. "I have never met a
lovelier person. Her face is sweetness itself; her manners are full
of ease and grace, and her heart seems a deep well of love to all."

"Who can she be? Where did she come from? I feel toward her as if
she were my own child."

"But she is only a nurse," said her friend. "Do not forget that, nor
your station in society."

Mrs. Linden shook her head and murmured--"I have never found one
like her in the highest places; no, not even in my own children.
Station in society! Ah! my friend, that delusion has passed."

As Mrs. Linden recovered more and more, Ellen remained with her,
waiting only for a good opportunity to make herself known. She did
not wish to do this until she was sure that she had awakened a
feeling of affection in her mother's bosom.

Mrs. Linden had been sitting up for two or three days, so far had
she recovered, and yet Ellen did not feel that it was safe to
venture a full declaration of the truth.