. She was holding my hand, and I
took hers up and kissed it, to show her, if I could, that
I knew that she was right; but I could not have spoken
about it for all the world. It was not ten days since
that she herself, with all her prudence, told me that she
thought I ought to make up my mind what answer I would
give him. And then I did not say anything; but of course
she knew. And after that Miss Anne spoke quite freely
about it, so that I had to beg her to be silent even
before the girls. You know how imprudent she is. But it
is all over now. Of course Miss Annabella is right. He
has got a great many people to think of; his father and
mother, and his darling little Edith, whom he brought here
twice, and left her with us once for two days, so that
she got to know me quite well; and I took such a love for
her, that I could not bear to part with her. But I think
sometimes that all our family are born to be unfortunate,
and then I tell myself that I will never hope for anything
again.

Pray write to me soon. I feel as though nothing on earth
could comfort me, and yet I shall like to have your
letter. Dear, dear Lily, I am not even yet so wretched but
what I shall rejoice to be told good news of you. If it
only could be as John wishes it! And why should it not?
It seems to me that nobody has a right or a reason to by
unhappy except us. Good-by, dearest Lily,

Your affectionate friend,

GRACE CRAWLEY.

P.S.--I think I have made up my mind that I will go back
to Hogglestock at once if the magistrates decide against
papa. I think I should be doing the school harm if I were
to stay here.

The answer to this letter did not reach Miss Crawley till after the
magistrates' meeting on the Thursday, but it will be better for our
story that it should be given here than postponed until the result
of that meeting shall have been told. Miss Dale's answer was as
follows:--

ALLINGTON, -- December, 186--

DEAR GRACE,

Your letter has made me very unhappy. If it can at all
comfort you to know that mamma and I sympathise with you
altogether, in that you may at any rate be sure. But in
such troubles nothing will give comfort. They must be
borne, till the fire of misfortune burns itself out.

I had heard about the affair a day or two before I got
your note. Our clergyman, Mr. Boyce, told us of it. Of
c