ace for sale and bought it. There was only a very rough log-house upon
the ground, but I went into that until this cottage was ready, and here
you can remember almost all that has happened."

Lucia raised her head as her mother finished speaking.

"But--my father!" she said hesitatingly.

"I forgot." Mrs. Costello resumed. "Mr. Strafford kept me informed of
his movements for some time. He came back shortly after we had left the
island, and on finding us gone, he tried all means to discover where we
were. He actually traced us to Montreal, but there lost the clue, and
came back disappointed. For some years he continued to live much as he
had done ever since his return from England, frequently staying two or
three weeks on the island, and never forgetting to make some effort to
trace us. The perpetual terror I suffered during those years never
subsided. I feared to go outside of my own garden lest he should meet
and recognize me. At last Mr. Strafford sent me word that he had gone to
the Hudson's Bay Territory.

"After that I began to feel that I was free, and from the time you were
nine until you were sixteen I had little immediate anxiety; then, as I
saw you growing up, I knew that the time when you must know your own
birth and my history drew very near, and the idea weighed on me
constantly. Other anxieties came too, and finally, worst of all, news
that Christian had returned."

"And now," Lucia asked, "do you know where he is?"

"No. But I have been warned that he is seeking for us. They say that we
have more reason than ever to fear him, and that he is looking for us in
this part of the province."

Mrs. Costello's voice sunk almost to a whisper. She seemed to fancy that
the man she had so long escaped might be close at hand, and Lucia caught
the infection of her terror. They remained silent a minute, listening
fearfully to the light rustling of the leaves outside, as the breeze
stirred them.

"Mother," Lucia said at last, "how soon can we leave here?"

"I have thought much of that," Mrs. Costello answered, "but we have ties
here too strong to be broken suddenly; and, indeed, a hasty removal
might but draw upon us the very notice we wish to avoid."

"We must go soon though, as soon as possible. Oh! mamma, I could not
bear to stay here now."

It was a cry of impatience--of acute pain--the child had suddenly turned
back from her mother's story to her own trial and loss. Love, happiness,
two hours ago claspe