Richards
knows that I was born, mercy knows where. But for you, she never
need have known it either, but you must tell that we had not always
lived in Kentucky.

"But to do Mrs. Richards justice, she never alludes to my birth.
She takes it for granted that I moved, like Douglas, when I was
very young, and you ought to hear her introduce me to some of her
aristocratic friends. 'Mrs. So and So, Miss Worthington, from
Spring Bank, Kentucky,' then in an aside, which I am not supposed
to hear, she adds, 'A great heiress, of a very respectable family.
You may have heard of them.' Somehow, this always makes me
uncomfortable, as it brings up certain cogitations touching that
scamp you were silly enough to marry, thereby giving me to the
world, which my delectable brother no doubt thinks would have been
better off without me. How is Hugh? And how is that Hastings woman?
Are you both as much in love with her as ever? Well, so be it. I do
not know as she ever harmed me, and she did fit my dresses
beautifully. Even Mrs. Richards, who is a judge of such things,
says they display so much taste, attributing it, of course, to my
own directions. I am so glad now that I forgot to send her letter,
as I would not for the world have Adah in the Richards' family. It
would ruin my prospects for becoming Mrs. Dr. Richards sure, and
allow me to say they are not inconsiderable."

"What does she mean? What letter? Who is Dr. Richards?" Hugh asked, his
face a purplish red, and contrasting strikingly with the one of ashen
hue still resting on his shoulder.

Mrs. Worthington explained as well as she could, and Hugh went on:

"Old Mrs. Richards would, of course, question Adah, and as Adah has
some foolish scruples about the truth, she would be very apt to let
the cat out of the bag.

"We left Saratoga a week ago--old lady Richards wanted to go to
Terrace Hill a while and show me to Anna, who, it seems, is a kind
of family oracle. After counting the little gold eagles in my
purse, I said perhaps I'd go for a few days, though I dreaded it
terribly, for the doctor had not yet bound himself fast, and I did
not know what the result of those three old maid sisters, sitting
on me, would be. Old lady was quite happy in prospect of going
home, when one day a letter came from Anna. I happened to have a
headache, and was lying on madam's bed, when the dinner bell
happened to ring. I ju