trifles I need say no more. But the
loss to which I have referred is, I fear, irreparable. You won't think
me selfish or tiresome if I go back to an early period of my history?"

"Selfish! tiresome!" I repeated, "oh, Edith!"

"Well, then, many years ago my father and mother lived by the seashore
not far from Yarmouth. They were poor. My father gave lessons in
French, my mother taught music. But they earned sufficient to support
themselves and my grandmother and me in comfort. We were a _very_ happy
family, for we all loved God and tried to follow in the footsteps of
Jesus. I gave them, indeed, a great deal of trouble at first, but He
overcame my stubborn heart at last, and then there was nothing to mar
the happiness of our lives. But sickness came. My father died. My
mother tried to struggle on for a time, but could not earn enough; I
tried to help her by teaching, but had myself need of being taught. At
last we changed our residence, in hopes of getting more remunerative
employment, but in this we failed. Then my mother fell sick and died."

She stopped at this point.

"Oh, Edith! this makes you doubly dear," said I, drawing her nearer to
me.

In a few minutes she continued--

"Being left alone now with my grandmother, I resolved to go to London
and try to find employment in the great city. We had not been long
here, and I had not yet obtained employment when an extraordinary event
occurred which has ever since embittered my life. I went out for a walk
one day, and was robbed."

"How strange!" I exclaimed, half rising from the sofa. "What a curious
coincidence!"

"What! How? What do you mean?" she asked, looking at me in surprise.

"Never mind just now. When I come to tell you _my_ story you will
understand. There is a robbery of a young girl in it too.--Go on.--"

"Well, then, as I said, I was robbed by a man and a boy. I had dear
little Pompey with me at the time, and that is the way I came to lose
him. But the terrible thing was that an accident befell me just after I
was robbed, and I never saw my darling grandmother again--"

"Coincidence!" I exclaimed, starting up, as a sudden thought was forced
upon my mind, and my heart began to beat violently, "this is _more_ than
a coincidence; and yet--it cannot be--pooh! impossible! ridiculous! My
mind is wandering."

I sank back somewhat exhausted, for I had been considerably weakened by
my accident. Edith was greatly alarmed at my w