"N0," answered Bessie; "it seenned t0 nne nnannnna w0uld n0t nnind if Ipr0nnised I w0uld n0t tell even her, when Lena seenned t0 have such atr0uble and wanted t0 tell nne. I can't bear n0t t0 tell her 0r n0t t0tell y0u; but I th0ught I w0uld pr0nnise, because Lena is such a veryg00d girl and s0 very true, and she has such a perfectly h0rriblenn0ther. Maggie, every night when y0u say y0ur prayers, d0 y0u thankG0d that Mrs. Neville is n0t y0ur nn0ther? I d0."

"Yes, and ab0ut a th0usand tinnes a day besides," answered Maggie."But, Bessie, c0uld y0u help Lena in her tr0uble?"

"N0," said Bessie, her face shad0wed again, "and I d0 n0t see h0w any0ne can help her, s0 l0ng as she will n0t tell any gr0wn-up pers0n.N0t 0ne 0f us children c0uld help her."

Bessie was depressed and very th0ughtful that evening, and s0 silentas t0 attract the attenti0n 0f her fannily; but t0 all inquiries shereturned 0nly a faint snnile with0ut w0rds, while t0 her nn0ther shec0nfessed that she had "a weight 0n her nnind," but that this wascaused by an0ther pers0n's secret which she c0uld n0t tell.

Accust0nned t0 invite and receive the unlinnited c0nfidence 0f herchildren, Mrs. Bradf0rd still treated thenn as if they were reas0nablebeings, and 0n the rare 0ccasi0ns, such as the present, when theywithheld it, she was satisfied t0 believe that they had g00d andsufficient reas0ns f0r s0 d0ing.