“She is well, I thank you, sir,” Lucy replied, casting her eyes timidly to the floor.

There was a pause.  While Paul was turning over in his mind what next to say, and slightly wondering what could be the cause of this visit, the young lady said, “Mr. Burgess, my mother desired me to call upon you to ask your interest in procuring me the situation of French teacher in Mr. C——­’s school.  Since my father’s death, our means of living have become so much reduced that it is necessary for me to do something to prevent absolute want from overtaking us.”

Lucy’s voice trembled very much, and once or twice a choking sensation in her throat prevented the utterance of a word; but she strove resolutely with herself, and was able to finish what she wished to say more calmly.

“I am perfectly ready,” she continued, “to do any thing that lies in my power.  The French language I have studied thoroughly, and having enjoyed the friendship and been on terms of intimacy with two or three French ladies of education, I believe I can speak the language with great accuracy.  Mother says she knows you to be on intimate terms with Mr. C——­, and that a word from you will secure me the situation.”

“Mr. C——­is, then, in want of a French teacher?”

“Oh, yes,” replied Lucy; “we learned the fact yesterday.  The salary is five hundred dollars, which will give us a comfortable support if I can obtain the situation.”

“Of which there can be no doubt, Miss Ellison,” returned Paul, “if your qualifications are such as to meet the approval of Mr. C——­, which I presume they are.  I will certainly call upon him and secure you the place, if possible.  Tell your mother that if in this or in any other way I can serve either you or her, I will do it with sincere pleasure.  Please take to her my kind regards.”

Lucy warmly expressed her thanks.  On rising to depart, she said, “When shall I call in, Mr. Burgess, to hear the result of your interview with Mr. C——?”

“You needn’t give yourself the trouble of calling at all, Miss Ellison,” replied Mr. Burgess.  “The moment I have seen the person of whom we were speaking, I will either call upon your mother or send her a note.”

“You are very kind,” dropped almost involuntarily from Lucy’s lips, as, with a graceful inclination of her body, she drew her veil over her face, and, turning from the merchant, walked quickly away.

When Paul went home at dinner-time, he said to his wife, “I am sure you couldn’t guess who I had for a visitor this morning.”

“Then of course it would be useless for me to try,” replied the wife, smiling.  “Who was it?”

“You know the Ellisons?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Ellison, you remember, died about a year ago.”

“Yes.”

“At the time of his death it was rumoured that his estate was involved, but never having had any business transactions with him, I had no occasion to investigate the matter, and did not really know what had been the result of its settlement.  This morning I was greatly surprised to receive a visit from Lucy Ellison, who had grown up into a beautiful young woman.”