’Oh no, Mrs. White, interrupted Gillian, her shyness overpowered by the necessity of throwing herself into the breach.  ’Don’t you remember me?  I am Gillian Merrifield, and this is my aunt, Miss Adeline Mohun.’

The puffy features lighted up into warmth.  ’Little Miss Gillian!  And I am proud to see you!  My little Maura did tell me that Miss Valetta was in her class at the High School; but I thought there was no one now who would come near the poor widow.  And is your dear mamma here, Miss Gillian, and are she and your papa quite well?’

Gillian could hardly believe in such dense remoteness that her father’s accident should be unknown, but she explained all, and met with abundant sympathy, the dark eyes filled with tears, and the voice broke into sobs, as Mrs. White declared that Sir Jasper and Lady Merrifield had been the best friends she ever had in her life.

But oh! that the handkerchief had been less grimy with which she mopped her eyes, as she spoke of the happy days that were gone!  Gillian saw that poor Aunt Ada was in an agony to get away, and hurried out her questions for fear of being stopped.  ’How was Kalliope—–­was she at home?’

’Oh no, poor Kally, she is the best girl in the world.  I always say that, with all my sorrows, no one ever was more blest in their children than poor little me.  Richard, my eldest, is in a lawyer’s office at Leeds.  Kally is employed in the art department, just as a compliment to her relation, Mr. White.  Quite genteel, superior work, though I must say he does not do as much for us as he might.  Such a youth as my Alexis now was surely worthy of the position of a gentleman.’

The good lady was quite disposed to talk; but there was no making out, through her cloud of confused complaints, what her son and daughter were actually doing; and Aunt Ada, while preserving her courtesy, was very anxious to be gone, and rose to take leave at the first moment possible, though after she was on her feet Mrs. White detained her for some time with apologies about not returning her visit.  She was in such weak health, so unequal to walking up the cliff, that she was sure Miss Mohun would excuse her, though Alexis and Kally would be perfectly delighted to hear of Miss Gillian’s kindness.

Gillian had not made out half what she wanted to know, nor effected any arrangement for seeing Kalliope, when she found herself out in the street, and her aunt panting with relief.  ’My dear, that woman!  You don’t mean that your mother was fond of her.’

‘I never said mamma was fond of her.’

’My dear, excuse me.  It was the only reason for letting you drag me here.  I was almost stifled.  What a night I shall have!’

’I am very sorry, Aunt Ada, but, indeed, I never said that mamma was fond of her, only that papa thought very highly of her husband, and wished us to be kind to her.’

’Well, you gave me that impression, whether you wished it or not!  Such a hole; and I’m sure she drinks gin!’