"I cannot give you any references," she said--"I am quite alone in
the world--my people are dead--you see I am in mourning. The last
friend I had died a little while ago and left me four hundred
pounds in bank-notes. I have them here"--and she touched her
breast--"and if you like I will give you one of them in advance
payment for the rooms and board at once."

The old lady heaved a quick sharp sigh. One hundred pounds! It
would relieve her of a weight of pressing difficulty--and yet--!
She paused, considering.

"No, my child!" she said, quietly. "I would not on any account
take so much money from you. If you wish to stay, and if I must
omit references and take you on trust--which I am quite willing to
do!"--and she smiled, gravely--"I will accept two months' rent in
advance if you think you can spare this--can you?"

"Yes--oh, yes!" the girl exclaimed, impulsively. "If only I may
stay--now!"

"You may certainly stay now," and Miss Leigh rang a bell to summon
the neat maid-servant. "Rachel, the rooms are let to this young
lady, Miss Armitage. Will you prepare the bedroom and help her
unpack her things?" Then, turning round to Innocent, she said
kindly,--"You will of course take your meals with me at my table--
I keep very regular hours, and if for any cause you have to be
absent, I should wish to know beforehand."

Innocent said nothing;--her eyes were full of tears, but she took
the old lady's little hand and kissed it. They went down together