aid Helen, after they went down.
"What nice antique furniture! how delightful those geraniums are; and
how charming the fire looks and feels!"

"Here is your breakfast, dear Helen; eat it while it is warm," said
May, coming in with a small tray, which she arranged on a stand behind
her.

"Thank you, dear little lady; really this coffee is delicious, and the
toast is very nice," said Helen, eating her breakfast with great _gout_.

"I am glad you relish it; and now that you are comfortably fixed, if
you will excuse me, I will run out for an hour or so; I have some
little matters to attend to down street. You will find a small bamboo
tub in the next room, when you finish eating, in which you can wash up
your cup and saucer, and plate."

"Yes, dame Trot, I will endeavor to do so!" said Helen, with a droll
grimace.

"The tea-towel is folded up on the first shelf in that closet near you;
so, good morning," said May, laughing, as she took up her work-basket,
and went upstairs to get her bonnet and wrappings, and make other
arrangements; then drawing on her walking-boots, and twisting a _nubae_
around her throat, she went out, with a bundle in her hand, and walked
with a brisk pace down the street. She soon approached a gothic
church--a church of the Liguorian Missions, and at the distance of half
a square, heard the solemn and heavenly appeals of the organ, rolling
in soft aerial billows past her. She quickened her steps, and pushing
gently against the massive door, went in. A solemn mass was being
offered, and a requiem chanted, for the repose of the soul of a member
of the arch-confraternity of the Immaculate Heart of MARY. "I thank
thee, dear Jesus, for giving me this opportunity to adore thee,"
whispered May, kneeling in the crowd, "for all thy tender mercies, this
is the most touching and consoling to me; when thou dost come, clad in
the solemn and touching robes of propitiation, to offer THYSELF for the
eternal repose of the souls of thy departed children."

The crowd increasing, and finding it impossible to penetrate through
the masses in the aisle, she quietly edged her way along, until she
came to the steps leading to the side gallery, which she ascended, and
happily obtained a place where she had a full view of all that was
passing below. On a plain catafalque, covered with black velvet, in
front of the sanctuary and altar, rested a coffin. It was made of
pine, and painted white. A few white lilies and