breath.

"You must despise me!" cried Milly, bursting into tears. "And you would
despise me still more--if I told you--everything."

"No, Milly, it is not for me to despise you. I am very, very sorry for
you. You have suffered a great deal, for what was not all your fault."

"Yes, I _have_ suffered, Miss Lettice--more than I can tell you. I had a
terrible time when my baby was born. I had a fever too, and lost my
hair; and when I recovered I had nothing left. I did not know what to
do. I thought of throwing myself into the river; and I think I should
have done it when I came to Birchmead and found that grandmother was
dead, if it had not been for you. You found me in the garden that night,
just as I had made up my mind. There's a place across the meadows where
one could easily get into a deep pool under the river-bank, and never
come out again. That was where I meant to go."

"No wonder you have looked so ill and worn," said Lettice,
compassionately. "What you must have endured before you brought yourself
to that! Well, it is all over now, and you must live for the future. Put
the past behind you; forget it--think of it only with sorrow for your
mistakes, and a determination to use them so that your child shall be
better guarded than you have been. You and your baby have your own lives
to live--good and useful lives they may be yet. No one would blame you
if they knew your story, and there is no reason why you should be
afraid. I will always be your friend, Milly, if you will work and
strive--it is the only way in which you can regain and keep your
self-respect."

Milly bent her head and kissed Lettice's hand with another outburst of
tears. But they were tears of gratitude, and Lettice did not try to
check them now.

Whilst they were still sitting thus, side by side, the servant knocked
at the door with a message for her mistress; and her voice broke
strangely through the sympathetic silence that had been for some time
maintained between mistress and maid.

"Mr. Campion wishes to see you, ma'am."

Lettice felt the face which still rested on her hand flush with sudden
heat; but when Milly raised it it was as white as snow. The baby in its
cradle stirred and began to wake.

"I will come at once, Mrs. Jermy," said Lettice.

"Milly, you had better finish your work here, and let me give baby to
Mrs. Jermy for a few minutes. She will be quite good if I take her
downstairs."

She did not look at Milly as she spo