gain. I think this time
will be forever!"

Olympia swept out of the room and entered her carriage, looking like a
baffled fury.

Then those two were left together, and for half an hour they sat,
looking at each other with sad, wistful eyes, talking of the past in
snatches, till slowly and sadly their minds turned to the future, and
that looked blank enough to them. What could they do? Olympia had never
been generous to her daughter or the agent. They had neither money nor
valuables. How were they to live, even for a week?

"I can, perhaps, obtain a situation in some orchestra."

Poor Brown spoke under his breath, for he knew well enough that Olympia
would never permit him to earn his bread in that way, so long as her
influence in the theatres could prevent it; but it was the only hopeful
idea he could think of, and so he suggested it with desponding
hesitation. But, to the young girl, there was encouragement even in
this.

"And I can take pupils. You remember the young lady that came to me that
night in the dressing-room--Lord Hope's daughter?"

"Remember her!" exclaimed Brown, brightening all over, "I should think
so! When she turned her face upon me and said, 'Don't be so anxious,
sir. She is better now,' I longed to fall down on my knees and worship
her!"

Tears came into Caroline's eyes. Her nature was noble and full of
gratitude. She could endure wrong and cruelty without weeping, but
generous and kind actions melted her heart.

"Ah, how good she was; we can trust her, my father."

How falteringly, and with what pathos she used this grand old word now!
Before, she had done it in affectionate play, but now, a solemn feeling
of tenderness thrilled the syllables, as "father" dropped from her lips,
and made the heart swell in his bosom with a tremulous response.

"She will speak to Lady Hope, and they will recommend pupils to us. Oh,
if we could only go back to Italy!"

As this exclamation was on her lips, the servant in blue and silver came
through the door with a salver in his hand, on which lay a letter. The
seal and monogram had struck his eye, and he brought the missive in with
an excess of ceremony that would have been laughable at another time. He
brought the letter to Caroline. She tore it open, and an eager, almost
wild look of thankfulness swept over her face as she read it.

"Oh, father, father! See what the good God has done for us!"

The servant, who lingered in the room, was so astonished