it does not interfere with your studies, Henry, but you must
mind and not be troublesome to him."

"I'll take care of that; but I forgot to tell you, I met Mrs. Sherman,
as I was coming home, and she wants you to go to tea there, and Susan
is to come down and stay with Fanny."

Mrs. Sherman had seen Mrs. Cameron, and learnt from her the cruel
manner in which Mrs. Falkner had behaved, and kindly desired to have a
chat with Helen, in order to soothe and strengthen her mind, and; if
it were possible, render her less vulnerable to these shafts of
malice. After they had, for some time, discussed the matter:

"Now," said Mrs. Sherman, "let us forget all unpleasantries, and give
me one of your nice songs; I wonder where the Doctor is? he promised
to be in to tea; but, I suppose, he has taken it where he is
detained."

Helen sat down, and played and sang. At length, the Doctor's voice was
heard in the passage; but Mrs. Sherman insisted on her going on, and
held up her finger, as her husband entered, in token of silence. The
Doctor sent Mrs. Sherman to the parlour door, where stood Mr.
Mortimer; when Helen had finished, she turned and saw him. He bowed
and went across to her, and expressed his pleasure in meeting her
again, in such a frank off-hand manner, that our heroine, if such she,
may be called, soon lost all feeling of embarrassment, and went on
playing and singing and the evening passed imperceptibly away. When
the Doctor escorted Helen home, Mr. Mortimer accompanied them to the
gate, leading to the cottage and took his leave.

Their meeting at Dr. Sherman's was entirely the result of accident.
Mr. Mortimer had been on friendly terms at the house ever since he had
been in the neighbourhood, but as both the Doctor and his wife
concluded he was engaged to Miss Falkner, they never thought to ask
him, when Helen was expected, and so tenacious was he, not to win her
affections, till assured he could make her his, that he carefully
assumed an indifference he was far from feeling. He pitied her
position; which he saw was a trying one; and he greatly admired the
way she acquitted herself in it. He gained a great insight into her
character, in his conversations with Henry, who, entirely off his
guard, was very communicative. The following letter, however, from Mr.
Mortimer to an old friend, will best elicit his views and opinions:

"MY DEAR EMMERSON,

"I promised to let you know where I brought up, and here I am,