and any ornaments about her which might assist in
her identification. Although my brother might not be able to recognise
them, he tells me that a black girl, who was a nurse in his family and
much attached to the child, is still alive, and he proposes to send for
her immediately. He has married again and has a large family. Though
Mary may be pleased to find that she has a number of brothers and
sisters, her position as to fortune will not be greatly altered; however
on that point she will not concern herself as much as you and others,
her elders, may possibly do, and we will take care that she is not the
loser should the hopes we entertain be realised.

"I have written this, my dear madam, as you ought to receive the
earliest information on the subject, and because you may think fit to
prepare your young charge for what may otherwise prove so startling to
her; but I leave that to your judgment, and hoping in the course of a
few days to see you,

"I remain,

"Yours faithfully,

"J. Farrance."

Mary sat for some minutes, her hands clasped and apparently lost in
thought, then she burst into tears, exclaiming, "My poor, poor mother!
I cannot help picturing her on the deck of the sinking ship, while the
fierce waves were foaming around her until she was carried away and
lost."

It was strange she did not think so much of her supposed father and the
new brothers and sisters she might find. Miss Sally endeavoured to calm
her.

"My dear, dear Mary, I ought not to have read this letter to you," she
exclaimed, "you must try to forget it; but I am afraid that you will not
do that, and we must endeavour to wait patiently until Mr Farrance and
his brother appear. They may find that they are mistaken, and then you
will still be my little niece, and as much loved as ever."

Mary soon grew calm, and tried to follow Miss Sally's advice by waiting
patiently for the appearance of their expected visitors. We, in the
meantime, must go to a far off part of the world.

CHAPTER NINE.

No one will suppose that Ned Garth was dead, more than did his loving
friends, although a long time had elapsed, and no tidings of him had
been received.

When ordered by Mr Rhymer to try and prevent the escape of the slaves,
he sprang forward without thinking of the risk he ran. He had succeeded
in getting in front of a large party of the fugitives, endeavouring by
all the significant gestures he could think of to induce them to turn