he stopped; tears flowed softly, but she was too weak for violent
grief; and so the two girls left her, after having given the nurse money
for present use, and learned what comforts were most needed.

On their return they did not stop at all in Cacouna, but drove straight
to the Cottage. Mrs. Bellairs was still there, and sent word to her
sister by Margery to dismiss the sleigh and come in, that they might
return home together. They found the two ladies sitting "conferring by
the parlour fire," and eager to hear the result of their visit to Beaver
Creek. Lucia saw that the narration must come from her; for Bella, worn
out by the painful excitement of the morning, was incapable of
describing what had so greatly moved her, and could scarcely bear even
to hear the baby's death spoken of as a thing not to be regretted.

"Poor little creature!" Mrs. Bellairs said. "Even the mother by-and-by
may be glad it is gone."

"Elise!" Bella cried impatiently, "how can you be so cruel? And you are
a mother yourself!"

"You forget, dear, what a fate those children have; and yet, since you
feel so pitifully towards them, it certainly does not become me to be
less charitable;" and the kind-hearted woman wiped furtively the tears
of genuine compassion which she had been shedding over the sorrows of
the Clarksons, and never thought of defending herself from her sister's
blame; though, to tell the truth, she had not in her whole nature a
single spark of cruelty or uncharitableness, and that Bella knew
perfectly well.

Lucia went on to mention the things really needed by the squatter's
family. Mrs. Costello turned to Bella,

"Do you really mean," she asked, "to keep them on the farm after this
winter?"

"Yes. I certainly shall not allow them to be turned out as long as they
like to stay. I am going to have the land cleared and put under
cultivation. I suppose it will be necessary to have a kind of foreman or
manager of some sort there; and it has occurred to me that Mrs. Clarkson
might take him as a lodger. But before that can be done, the house would
have to be enlarged and several alterations made. I must consult William
about it."

Both Mrs. Costello and Mrs. Bellairs were surprised to hear the young
widow speaking with so much of her old spirit and decision. The fact was
that the consciousness that there was something to be done for others
had made Bella aware that, in spite of her aching heart, she was still
able to do what dut