you a
great deal of good. I have known them many years as worthy and sincere
characters." This was enough: and Helen was punctual to the time named.

The Doctor was in to tea, and his frank good humoured manner,
completely won Helen's heart. He too, on his part, was much pleased
with her. After conversing for some time, he appeared thoughtful, and
then put several questions to her; among others, asked, if she had
ever applied for the allowance from the "Compassionate Fund," for
herself and the children; saying, he knew some who received it; and
that he would inquire what forms were necessary for obtaining it:
adding,

"I believe it is not much; not more than ten pounds a year each, but
as there are three of you, thirty pounds is worth trying for."

Helen was very grateful for the suggestion, and the good Doctor
promised to make the requisite inquiries next day. While they were
thus chatting together, the two little girls were amusing themselves
in the drawing room, which communicated with the parlour by folding
doors, and just as the Doctor was remarking how quiet they were, the
piano was struck, and a pretty sonata played. Mrs. Sherman was
surprised to find it was Fanny, and still more so, on hearing that
Helen had been her sole instructress, as she played very prettily. The
Doctor, who was passionately fond of music, was then very anxious to
hear Helen play, and asked her to do so, but kind feeling restrained
him from urging her, when she gave her reason, which, I need not tell
the reader, was the recent death of her mother.

The evening passed off very cheerfully, and Helen found, ere she left
Mrs. Sherman's, she had secured warm friends in her and her excellent
husband. It was agreed that, on the following day, she should her
introduced to several families, where she would be likely to obtain
pupils; and so successful were Mrs. Sherman's efforts, that she had
the promise of six to commence with on the following Monday, and ere a
month had elapsed, three more were added to the number.

I should before have mentioned, that, on the death of her mother,
Helen had written to an aunt, who was in great affluence, informing
her of the sad event, from whom she received a cool letter of
condolence, but not the slightest offer of assistance.

Finding it necessary to forward certificates of her parents' marriage,
as well as those of her own and the children's baptism, she wrote to
her aunt, for information as to where s