LOST. 241 



She never wore ornaments of any kind, no chain, no 

 brooch, no ring or pin. She had twins — two beautiful little 

 blue-eyed things, wonderfully like herself — little shy, grace- 

 ful creatures, always together, always playful. She never 

 spoke of her own affairs, and affable as she was, and gentle 

 in manner, there was something about her which repelled 

 intrusion. 



When, after some weeks' residence there, I had gained 

 the good-will of my simple-minded but kindly little landlady, 

 I cautiously ventured to ask her to gratify my not, I think, 

 unnatural curiosity ; but I found, to my surprise, she knew 

 but little more than I did myself. 



"She came to me," she said, "just at the edge of the 

 evening, one cold rainy night, and I could not refuse to 

 give her shelter, at least for the night, or till she could 

 do better. I did not think of her remaining; but she is 

 so pretty and gentle, and innocent-looking, I could not 

 turn her out of my house — could I, now? I know I am 

 silly in such ways; but what could I do?" 



"But is it possible," I said, "that she has remained here 

 ever since, and you know nothing more about her?" 



"No more than you do yourself, general," said Mrs. 

 Honey wold. " I do not even know where she lived before 

 she came here. I cannot question her, and now, indeed, 

 I have become so fond of her, I should not be willing 

 to part with her ; and I would not turn her and her little 

 ones out of my hbuse for the world ! " 



Further conversation elicited the fact that she was not a 

 boarder, but that she and her little ones were the dependents 

 upon Mrs. Honeywold's charity. 



One fine summer day I had made an appointment with 

 a friend to drive out to his place in the suburbs and dine 

 with him, returning in the evening. When I came down 

 in the afternoon, dressed for my excursion, I went into 

 the dining-room to tell Mrs. Honey wold she need not wait 

 for me. As I came back through the parlour, she was there 

 alone. She was sitting on the sofa. A book lay near her, 

 but I do not think she had been reading. She was sitting 



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