“What saddening thoughts cross you, fair girl?” he inquired, with deep interest.

“I can hardly account for my sudden despondency,” she replied; “but I have heard that great happiness is the precursor of dejection, and the saying I suppose must be true, for I have been happier to-day than I ever was before in my life.  But the feeling of sadness is now past,” she added, smiling.

“I am glad of it,” said Richard.  “May I not know what has occurred to you?”

“Not at present,” interposed Dorothy; “but I am sure you will be pleased when you are made acquainted with the circumstance.  I would tell you now if I might.”

“May I guess?” said Richard.

“I don’t know,” rejoined Dorothy, who was dying to tell him.  “May he?”

“Oh no, no!” cried Alizon.

“You are very perverse,” said Richard, with a look of disappointment.  “There can be no harm in guessing; and you can please yourself as to giving an answer.  I fancy, then, that Alizon has made some discovery.”

Dorothy nodded.

“Relative to her parentage?” pursued Richard.

Another nod.

“She has found out she is not Elizabeth Device’s daughter?” said Richard.

“Some witch must have told you this,” exclaimed Dorothy.

“Have I indeed guessed rightly?” cried Richard, with an eagerness that startled his sister.  “Do not keep me in suspense.  Speak plainly.”

“How am I to answer him, Alizon?” said Dorothy.

“Nay, do not appeal to me, dear young lady,” she answered, blushing.

“I have gone too far to retreat,” rejoined Dorothy, “and therefore, despite Mistress Nutter’s interdiction, the truth shall out.  You have guessed shrewdly, Richard.  A discovery has been made—­a very great discovery.  Alizon is not the daughter of Elizabeth Device.”

“The intelligence delights me, though it scarcely surprises me,” cried Richard, gazing with heartfelt pleasure at the blushing girl; “for I was sure of the fact from the first.  Nothing so good and charming as Alizon could spring from so foul a source.  How and by what means you have derived this information, as well as whose daughter you are, I shall wait patiently to learn.  Enough for me you are not the sister of James Device—­enough you are not the grandchild of Mother Demdike.”

“You know all I know, in knowing thus much,” replied Alizon, timidly.  “And secrecy has been enjoined by Mistress Nutter, in order that the rest may be found out.  But oh! should the hopes I have—­perhaps too hastily—­indulged, prove fallacious—­”

“They cannot be fallacious, Alizon,” interrupted Richard, eagerly.  “On that score rest easy.  Your connexion with that wretched family is for ever broken.  But I can see the necessity of caution, and shall observe it.  And so Mistress Nutter takes an interest in you?”

“The strongest,” replied Dorothy; “but see! she comes this way.”