as gone, and I have never seen him since.'

The good clergyman asked me many more questions, to try if he could
discover who my friends were; but, as I unfortunately could not tell
either my own name, or that of any of the great people who had visited
us, his enquiries were fruitless, and he closed the conversation by
observing, 'that it was a great pity I had not been taught my own name
and address.'

* * * * *

[_Lady Anne was then taken to an orphan home, where she was treated very
harshly by Mrs. Dawson, the matron. Great fun was made of her grand
name._]

* * * * *

At last a man and his wife, who had come down from London on a visit to
a relation of theirs in the town, having heard of me, came to the school
to make their inquiries. I was accordingly ordered to stand up, that
they might satisfy their curiosity with gazing at me, while Mrs. Dawson
began to boast of all the good qualities I possessed, and some to which
I had no claim.

'She is a very delicate looking child,' said the woman from London; 'she
looks more like a gentleman's daughter than a parish girl.'

'She is straight, and tall of her age, ma'am,' replied Mrs. Dawson, 'and
that gives her a genteelish look; but I assure you she is as strong as a
little horse. She will wash and scour with any girl of her age; and, as
for her needle, there is not a girl in the school can work as well. Show
your work, Lady Anne.'

'Lady Anne!' repeated the Londoner, as she took my work into her hand,
'that is a strange name. What do you call her so for?'

Mrs. Dawson ran over my story to her as briefly as she could. The two
Londoners found it very diverting, and laughed heartily, while the tears
stood in my eyes as I thought of my dear parents, one in the grave, and
the other I might never see again.

'Well, wife,' said the man, when he had laughed till he was weary,
'suppose we take this young lady on trial for a month; the good woman
speaks of her very well; we can but see what she can do, and, if we find
her strong enough for our place, it will be a rare piece of luck for us
to have an earl's daughter for our servant. What say you, aye or nay?'

'I have no objection to try her,' replied the wife. 'She sews very well,
and that is the greatest object with us.'

'Very well, then,' returned the husband. 'Let us away to the overseers,
and settle with them about taking her upon trial, for I will not