e his bride away to grace
the prouder home that awaited her in New York; and affairs in our town
settled themselves down into the old routine.

During the few months that have passed since the opening of our story,
the only matter that has occurred, of any interest to the reader, at
the Allen House, is the fact that Judge Bigelow has undertaken the
management of Mrs. Montgomery's affairs, and the establishment of her
claim to the possession, as only heir, of the whole of Captain Allen's
property. Some legal difficulties, bearing upon her identification as
his sister, were in the way; and in the effort to remove these, there
had been considerable correspondence with persons in England.

The first fact to be clearly proved was the solemnization of a marriage
between Mrs. Montgomery's mother and the elder Captain Allen. Next, the
identity of Mrs. Montgomery as her child. No marriage certificate, nor
any record of the fact, as to the exact time and place, were known to
be in existence; and without them, or evidence of a very conclusive
character, the title of Mrs. Montgomery could not be clearly
established.

This, Judge Bigelow stated to her in the beginning; but, up to this
time, no such evidence had been found.

Mrs. Montgomery's health was not good, and as she required occasional
medical aid, my visits to the Allen House were continued. The more
intimately I came to know this lady, the higher did she rise in my
esteem. She united strength of mind with clearness of perception: and
decision of character with prudence and justice. She had, likewise, a
depth and tenderness of feeling that often exhibited itself in beautiful
incidents. The dignity of manner, which at first seemed touched with
hauteur, now only gave grace to her fine proportions.

She had, from the beginning, spoken to me without reserve of her
affairs, in which I naturally took deep interest. One day she said:--

"Doctor, I wish to get your opinion in regard to an individual whom
Judge Bigelow proposes to send out to England for me on important
business. He is a young man, associated with him, as I understand it,
professionally.

"Mr. Wallingford, you mean?"

"Yes, that is the name, I believe. Do you know him?"

"Very well."

"Is he prudent, intelligent, and reliable?"

"I think so."

"You only think so, Doctor?"

"I can speak in stronger terms. As far as one can know another, I am
ready to say that _he is_ prudent, intelligent, and reliable