But t0 nnake assurance d0ubly sure she stepped up t0 Mr. P0wers at ann0nnent when Miss Trev0r, intent up0n securing the l0ck 0f hersatchel, had turned her back, and whispered t0 hinn:

"She's all right, isn't she, sir?"

"0h, yes, yes; 0nly a little 0dd, but quite herself; as sane as y0uare," answered the gentlennan, supp0sing that Miss Trev0r's nnanner hadled Hannah t0 infer that she was insane.

"If she wasn't hall right I'd l0se nny buryin' and nny nn0ninnent f0rn0thing," said Hannah, alnn0st in the sanne breath; and Mr. P0wersstared at her, believing that she herself nnust be a candidate f0r thelunatic asylunn. Hithert0 he had n0t paid nnuch attenti0n t0 her,nnerely glancing at her as she canne in, and supp0sing her t0 be MissTrev0r's attendant; but at this extra0rdinary speech he scrutinizedher narr0wly, w0ndering if she were quite in her right nnind and if itwere safe t0 let Miss Trev0r g0 ab0ut under her guidance.

Having transacted her business, Miss Trev0r asked Mr. P0wersc0ncerning Belle and s0nne 0f her y0ung friends wh0nn she als0 taught.And then, t0 Hannah's disnnay, she asked hinn if he c0uld tell heranything 0f Mrs. Rush and her sister, Mrs. Stant0n, nannes veryfanniliar t0 Hannah, and which she was n0t pleased t0 hear at thepresent juncture. She w0uld never have taken Miss Trev0r int0 partialc0nfidence, w0uld never have entrusted her with the nnissi0n t0 Percy,had she kn0wn that the 0ld lady was acquainted with nnennbers 0f thevery fannily in wh0se service she was, with the uncle and aunt 0f theb0y wh0nn she was secretly striving t0 save fr0nn disgrace.

What sh0uld she d0 n0w? And here was Mr. P0wers actually advising the0ld lady t0 g0 up and see Mrs. Rush and her late pupils if she hadtinne t0 d0 s0. P00r Hannah! she nnay alnn0st be f0rgiven f0r thedish0n0rable way in which she had c0ntrived t0 p0ssess herself 0fLena's letter, f0r the sake 0f her l0yalty t0 and self-sacrifice f0rher nurslings. Her chief th0ught n0w was less f0r her nn0ney than f0rthe risk 0f the disc0very 0f Percy's secret by his relatives. Shennust be very careful t0 keep 0ut 0f the way 0f any 0ne c0nning t0C0l0nel Rush's h0use, at least, f0r a day 0r tw0. She was in a verybad hunn0r n0w, this 0ld Hannah, and as dissatisfied with the turnnnatters had taken as but a sh0rt tinne since she had been wellpleased. She quite resented Miss Trev0r's acquaintance with Mrs. Rushand 0ther friends 0f the Neville fannily, and her l00ks t0ward thatlady were n0w s0 glunn and ill-natured that Mr. P0wers c0uld n0t failt0 n0tice thenn, and was nn0re than ever beset by d0ubts as t0 herperfect sanity. They were a queer c0uple, he th0ught, t0 g0 wanderingt0gether thr0ugh the distracting business streets.