The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-26

as Mrs. Danvers spoke, but when gentle
voice replied:
Indeed, madam, beg your pardon.
Indeed, did my very best, but"
She started, looked up, and rose hast
lily from her chair. Lettice started, too,
on her side, as she did so; and advancing
few steps, exclaimed, "Catherinep
at must-it is-it is youp cried Cath
crime hastily, coming forward and taking
her by the hand. She gazed with aston
ishment at the worn and weather-beaten
face, the miserable attire, the picture of
utter wretchedness, before her. "You!'
she kept repeating; "Lettice! Lettice
Arnold Good heavensl where are they
all! Where is your father? Your mother2
Your sister,?
"Gone" said the poor girl. "Gone,
every one gone but poor Myra"
"And she, where is she? The beautiful
creature, that used to be the pride of
poor Mrs. Prices heart. How lovely she
was! And you, dear, dear LetHce, how
can you, how have you come to thisP
Mrs. Danvers stood like one petrified
with astouishment whilst this little scene
was going on. She kept looking at the
two girls, but said nothing.
"Poor, dear Lettice!' Catherine went
on in tone of the most affectionate
kindness, "have you come through the
streets and alone this miserable morning?
And working, working for me! Good
heavens how has all this come aboutw
"But come to the fire first" she con-
tinued taking hold of the almost frozen
hand.
Mrs. Danvers now came forward.
"You seem to have met with an old
acquaintance, Catherine. Pray come to
the fire, and sit down and warm yourself,
and have you breakfasted~
Lettice hesitated. She had become so
accustomed to her fallen condition, that
it seemed to her that she could no longer
with propriety sit down to the table with
Catherine.
Catherine perceived this, and it
shocked and grieved her excessively.
'Do come and sit down." she said en-
couraged by Mrs. Danvers' invitation,
"and tell us, have you breakfasted? But
though you have, warm cup of tea this
cold morning must be comfortable"
And she pressed her forward, and seat
ed her, half reluctant, in an armchair
that stood by the fire; then she poured
out a cup of tea, and carried it to her re-
peating:
"Won't you eat? Have you breakfast
edT'
The plate of bread and butter looked
delicious to the half-staryed girl; the
warm cup of tea seemed to bring life into
her. She had been silent from surprise,
and sort of humiliated embarrassment; =;
but now her spirits began to revive, and
she said, 81 never expected to have seen
you again, Miss MeIwyn"
Miss Melwyn! What does that mean?
Dear Lettice, how has all this come
aboutW
"My father was i'll the last time you
were in Nottinghamshire, do you not
recollect, Miss Melwyn? He never re-
covered of that illness, but it lasted near
ly two years. During that time.
your aunt, Mrs. Montague,
died, and her house was sold'
and new people came, and you never
were at Castle Rising afterwards"
"No, indeed, and from that day to
this have never chanced to hear any
thing Of its inhabitants But Mrs Price,
your aunt, who was so fond of Myra,
what is become of her%
"She died before my poor father"
"Well, but she was rich. Did she do
nothingp
Everybody thought her rich, because
she spent good deal of money, but hers
was only income. Our poor aunt was no
great economist; she made no savings"
"Well, and your mother? l can not
understand it. No, l can not understand
it," Catherine kept repeating. $50 hor-
rible, dear, dear Lettice, and your shawl
is quite wet, and SO is your bonnet, poor
dear girl. Why did you not put up your
umbrella"
"For a good reason, dear Miss Mel
wyn; because do not possess one"
"Call me Catherine, won't you? or |
will not speak TO you again" But Mrs.
Dan ers' inquiring looks seemed now to
deserve little attention. She seemed
impatient to have the enigma of this
strange scene solved. Catherine caught
her eye, and turning from her friend,
with whom she had been so much ab-
sorbed as to forget everything else, she
said:
"Lettice Arnold is a clergyman's
daughter, ma'am."
81 began to think something of that
Sort" said Mrs. Danvers; "but, my dear
young lady, what can have brought you
to this terrible state of destitution~
Misfortune upon misfortune, madam.
My father was, indeed, clergyman, and
held the little vicarage of Castle Rising.
There Catherine" looking affectionately
up at her, "met me upon her visits to her
aunt, Mrs. Montague"
"We have known each other from
children" put in Catherine.
The door opened and Reynolds ap-
peared:
"The cab is waiting, if you please, Miss
Melwyn."
40, dear! 0, dearl l can't go just this
moment. Bid the man wait"
"It is late already" said Reynolds, tax
ing out his watch. "The train starts in
twenty Minutes