The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-04-08
Where is Miss EyrecourtY'
"Gone out, my lady"


"Did she leave no message?"
"No, my lady, she went away in
great hurry"
Lady Loring at once drew the conclu
sion that Stella had rashly taken Oh
affair Of the Generals family into he
own hands. Was it possible to say ho,
this most imprudent proceeding nigh
end2 After hesitating and rejecting
and hesitatirg again. Lady Lorine'
anxiety got beyond her control. Sh
not only decided on following Stella
but in the excess OF her nervous appre
hension, she took one OF the men-ser
wants with her in case OF emergency.
CHAPTER xH.--THE GENERALS FAMILY.
Not always remarkable for arriving 1,
just conclusions, Lady Loring hai
drawn the right inference this time
Stella had stopped the frst cab thaI
passed her, and had directed the drive
to Camps Hill, Islington.
The aspect of the miserable little
street, Closed at one end, and swarm
ing. with dirty children quarreling over
their play, daunted her for the moment.
Even the cabman, drawing up at the
entrance to the street, expressed his
opinion that it was queer sort Of place
for young lady to venture into alone.
Stella thought of Romayn. Her firm
persuasion that she was helping him to
perform an act of mercy, which was ITO
bis mind) an act Of atonement as we'll,
reused her courage. She boldly ap-
preached the open door OF No. 10, and
knocked on IL with her parasol.
The tangled gray hair and grimy face
Of hideous old woman showed them
selves slowly, at the end Of the passage,
rising from the strong-smelling obscur-
ity Of the kitchen regions.
"Whst do you wanta" said the half
seen witch of the London slums.
"Does Madam Mariliac live here p
Stella asked.
"Do you mean the foreigner
eyes"
-"Second floor" With those instruc-
tions, the upper half OF the witch sank
and vanished.
Stella gathered her skirts together,
and ascended filthy flight of stairs for
the first time in her life.
Coarse voices, shameless language,
gross laughter behind the closed doors
Of the first floor hurried her on her way
to the rooms on the higher fight. Here
there was change for the better-here,
ct least, there was silence. She knocked
at the door on the landing OF the second
floor. A gentle voice answered, in
French, "Entrez )" then quickly SUBJ
stituted the English equivalent, Come
in.". Stella opened the door
The wretchedly furnished room was
scrupulously clean. Two women, in
dresses Of coarse black stuff, sat at q
small, round table, working at the same
piece OF embroidery. The elder of the
two rose when the visitor entered the
room. Her worn and weary face still
showed the remains of beauty, in ita
finely proportional parts-her dim eyes
rested on Stella with an expression oi
piteous entreaty.
"Have you come for the work,
madam |" she asked, in English, spoken
with q strong foreign accent. "Pray
forgive me have not finished 1t yet.
The second of the two workwomer
suddenly looked up.
She, too, was wan and frail; but hel
eyes were bright; her movements still
preserved the elasticity Of youth. Hel
likeness TO the elder woman proclaimed
their relationship even before she
spoke.
"AhI It's my iaultl" she burst out
passionstely in French. az was hungry
and tired, and I slept longer than !
ought. My mother was too kind to
wake me and set me to work. I am q
selfish wretch, and my mother is an
angeli" She dashed away the tears
gathering in her eyes, and proudly.
6ercely, resumed her work.
Stella hastened to reassure them the
moment she could make herself heard.
"Indeed, I have nothing to do with
the work, !" she said, speaking in French,
SO that they might. the more readily un-
derstand her. at came here, Madame
Marillac-if you will not be offended
with me for plainly owning ito offei
you some little help"
"Charity?" asked the daughter, look
ing up again sternly from her needle.
"Sympathy," Stella answered, gently.
The girl resumed her work. al beg
your pardon" she said; at shall learn
to submit to my lot in time"
The quiet, long-suffering mother
placed chair for Stella. "You have |
kind, beautiful face, Miss" she said
"and I am sure you will make allow
ances for my poor girl. I remember
the time when was as quick to feel 81
shs Is. May ask how you came TO hsal
Of usf"
al hope you will excuse me- stelli
replied. "I am not at liberty TO An
swer that question"
The mother said nothing. TIL,
daughter asked sharply, "Why not?'
Stella addressed her answer 10 th'
mother. at come from a person VIII,
desires TO be Of service to you rs an I'M
known friend, she said.
The wan face of the widow suddenl,
frightened. "OhI" she exclaimed
"has my brother heard Of the General'
death, and has he forgiven me my mar
riAge at lastf"
"No, mol" Stella interposed; 81 mus
not mislead You. The person whom