ory,' said
I, `and now that you are at liberty to tell it, perhaps you will let me
have the whole history.'

"`Well,' said the old man, `as there is no longer a secret, I do not
know but that I may. Your aunt Green, you know, was nurse to Lady R--,
and remained in the family for years afterwards; for old Sir Alexander
Moystyn was confined to his room for years with gout and other
complaints, and your aunt Green attended him. It was just as Sir
Alexander had recovered from a very bad fit, that Miss Ellen, who was
Lady R--'s sister, and years younger than she was, made her runaway
match with Colonel Dempster, a very fashionable, gay young man, who had
come down here to shoot with the present baronet. Everyone was much
surprised at this, for all the talk was that the match would be with the
eldest sister, Lady R--, and not the youngest. They went off somewhere
abroad. Old Sir Alexander was in a terrible huff about it, and was
taken ill again; and Lady R--, who was then Miss Barbara, appeared also
much distressed at her sister's conduct. Well, a year or more passed
away, when, one day, Miss Barbara told your aunt Green that she wished
her to go with her on a journey, and she set off in the evening with
four post-horses, and travelled all night till she arrived at
Southampton. There she stopped at a lodging, and got out, spoke to the
landlady, and calling my daughter out of the chaise, desired her to
remain below while she went upstairs. My daughter was tired of staying
so long, for she remained there for five hours, and Miss Barbara did not
make her appearance, but they appeared to be very busy in the house,
running up and downstairs. At last a grave person, who appeared to be a
doctor, came into the parlour, followed by the landlady--in the parlour
in which my daughter was sitting.'

"`It's all over, Mrs Wilson,' said he, `nothing could save her; but the
child will do well, I have no doubt.'

"`What's to be done, sir?'

"`Oh,' replied the doctor, `the lady above stairs told me that she was
her sister, so of course we must look to her for all future
arrangements.'

"After giving a few directions about the infant, the doctor left the
house, and soon after that Miss Barbara came downstairs.

"`I'm quite worn out, Martha,' said she, `let us go to the hotel as fast
as we can. You sent away the carriage, of course. I would it had
remained, for I shall hardly be able to walk so far.'

"She took her arm, and as