se: the chaise was ordered out, and we set off.

"Tom," said Lady O'Connor, as I again call her, now that she is clear of
Greenwich, "there is one portion of my history which you do not know--a
very trifling part indeed. When I saw in the newspapers that my husband
had, as I supposed, been executed, I am ashamed to say that I first
thought of suicide; but my better feelings prevailed, and I then
resolved to change my name, and to let people suppose that I was dead.
It was for that reason that I left my bonnet by the river-side, and all
my apparel in the house, only taking away a few trinkets and valuables,
to dispose of for my future subsistence. I obtained a passage in a
transport bound to Woolwich, on the plea of my husband having arrived
from abroad; and, by mere accident, I found the goodwill of the
tobacconist's shop to be sold; it suited me--and there is the whole of
my history which you do not know.

"And now, as to Virginia, I intend to have her with me very soon. Your
mother is anxious that she should get into a high family, trusting that
her beauty will captivate some of the members--a bad kind of
speculation. I will advertise for a companion, and so arrange that your
mother shall not see me; and when your sister does come to me, it shall
not be as a companion, but as a child of my own. I owe you much, Tom--
indeed, almost everything; and it is the only way in which I can repay
you. I have already spoken to Sir James on the subject: he is equally
ready to pay the debt of gratitude, and therefore in future Virginia is
our adopted child."

"You are more than repaying me, Lady O'Connor," replied I, "and you are
obliging me in the quarter where I feel the obligation the greatest."

"That I believe, Tom; so now say no more about it."

I may as well here inform the reader that I remained a week at Chatham,
and that during that time Lady O'Connor put an advertisement in the
county paper, such as we knew would be a bait to my mother. This paper
I forwarded to Virginia, marking the advertisement. My mother
immediately replied to it, and Sir James O'Connor went up to Greenwich
and had an interview with my mother and Virginia, at apartments he had
taken at the hotel; appeared pleased with my sister, and said that as
soon as Lady O'Connor was sufficiently recovered she would send for her
to Chatham. This took place in two days afterwards; my mother escorted
Virginia there. Sir James stated that her ladyship