She wrote and respectfully declined her aunt’s offer.  The fact of the matter was this:  Mrs. Selwyn had heard of Helen’s successful attempt, and though she held no communication with her sister,—­Willoughby, after that lady had offended her father by marrying, yet she had little doubt of Helen’s capability; and thought, after the energy and self reliance she had manifested, she might, for she was, though rich, a most parsimonious woman, turn it to her own account and for a few years, at least, get her children cheaply educated.  It was Helen’s determination, if she obtained the compassionate allowance, to keep it, as a reserve for her brother’s education.  She mentioned her intention to Dr. Sherman, who expressed his warm approval of her plan.

One day, Nancy, who had been to the shop for groceries, came in, very hastily, to the room Helen and Mrs. Cameron were sitting in.

“Oh, Miss Helen! do you know, while I was waiting in Mrs. Conway’s shop, who should come in, but Peggy Smith, to say she was going to leave, the place, and go to her mother, a long way off, as she was, all along, so sickly, and she herself but a lone woman here; well she’s going to sell that nice cow, and let the field that joins our little paddock, which she holds on lease.  Now, I know that cow is a first-rate milker, and I thought if you would buy her, as I have a good deal of time, I could soon clear the five pounds, which is all she asks for it; she will calve in a month, and Mrs. Conway will take all the butter we don’t want.”

“It will be a capital thing, Helen,” said Mrs. Cameron, “if Nancy understands how to manage her.”

“I should think, ma’am, I did, when I was brought up in a dairy all my life, till I went to live with Mrs. Willoughby, and mother’s been sick two months at a time, and I made all the butter and cheese too.”

Mrs. Cameron told Helen, she had no doubt it might be made quite a profitable investment, as Nancy was such a good manager, and even offered to lend the money, but Helen had so well economised her little stock, this was not required.

Weeks and months passed away, but no satisfactory, or indeed, any answer at, all could be obtained as to the compassionate allowance.  At last, Dr. Sherman wrote again to the War Office, and received an answer, saying, the request could not be complied with, on the ground that Captain Willoughby’s death was not properly authenticated, though it was not, in the least, doubted, as a miniature of Mrs. Willoughby, and his pocket book, were found in the breast of a dead major, a friend of his, and in the same regiment, it was supposed, that he consigned them to the major, in his dying moments.  The grant, therefore, could not be allowed while the essential document was wanting.

Among her pupils, she gave lessons in music at their own house, to the Misses Falkner.  One morning, being tired of waiting which she invariably had to do, she sat down to the instrument to pass away the time.  One of her favorite songs lay before her on the Piano, and she almost unconsciously struck the keys and played the accompaniment, and sang it.  Hardly had she finished, than Miss Falkner came in; exclaiming, as she did so, “what, you here, Mr. Mortimer! how long have you been waiting?” not taking the slightest notice of Helen.