e at a loss to justify our recognition of her.

After Manetho's rude dismissal of her, she fled--not knowing whither
better--to Thor Helwyse, who was living widowed in his Brooklyn house,
with his infant son and daughter. Because she had been Helen's
attendant, she besought Helen's husband to give her a home. She was in
sore trouble, but said no more than this; and Thor, suspecting nothing
of her connection with Manetho, gladly received her as nurse to his
children.

But past sins and imprudences would find out Salome no less than
others. At the critical moment for herself and her fortunes, the house
took fire. She risked her life to save Thor's daughter, was herself
burned past recognition, and (one misfortune treading on another's
heels) balanced on death's verge for a month or two. She got well, in
part; but the faculty of speech had left her, and beauty of face and
figure was forever gone.

In her manifold wretchedness, and after such devotion shown, it was
not in Thor's warm heart to part with her; so, losing much, she gained
something. She remained with her benefactor, whose manly courtesy ever
forbore to probe the secret of her woman's heart, over which as over
her face she always wore a veil. The world saw Salome no more. She sat
in the nursery, watching year by year the dark-eyed little maiden
playing with the fair-haired boy. Broad-shouldered Thor would come in,
with his grand, kindly face and royal beard; would kiss the little
girl and tussle with the boy, mightily laughing the while at the
former's solicitude for her playmate; would throw himself on the
groaning sofa, and exclaim in his deep voice,--

"God bless their dear little souls! Why, Nurse! when did a brother and
sister ever love each other like that,--eh?"

Salome probably was not unhappy then; indeed,--whether she knew it or
not,--she was at her happiest. But new events were at hand; Thor,
growing yearly more restless, at length resolved to sell his house and
go to Europe, taking with him Salome and both the children. Everything
was ready, down to the packing of Salome's box. A day or two before
the sailing, Thor went to New Jersey, to bid farewell to his eccentric
brother-in-law. It was a warm summer day, and the children played from
morning till night in the front yard, while Nurse sat in the window
and kept her eye on them. Her thoughts, perhaps, travelled elsewhere.

Since her misfortune she had, no doubt, had more opportunity than most