Mrs. Holdfast rang a bell, and going to the door, unlocked it, and spoke to a servant, from whom she received a decanter of wine. She locked the door again, and returning to Fanny, raised the child's head, and put the decanter to her lips. Fanny allowed herself gradually to recover, and presently opened her eyes, and struggled to her feet. "Now," repeated Mrs. Holdfast, "who is your sister, and what has brought you here?" [Decoration] CHAPTER XXXIII. IN WHICH BECKY NARRATES HOW FANNY BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH MRS. LYDIA HOLDFAST. By this time Fanny had invented a cunning little story. "If you please, my lady," she replied, "my sister is an actress, and I've come here to ask you to help me." "But you don't know me; you've never spoken to me before," said Mrs. Holdfast. "I've never spoken to you," said Fanny, "but I remember you well. You used to go to the theatre in the country, where Nelly was engaged. That's the reason she sent me to you." "Is Nelly your sister?" "Yes, my lady. She was in the front row, and I used to come on in the crowd. I got a shilling a night, and Nelly had a pound a week. We lived near you in Oxford, and often saw you pass. Nelly was always talking of you, and saying how beautiful you were, and what a lady, and how lucky to have such swell friends. She used to wish she was like you, and when you went away she wondered where you had gone to. Well, things got bad, and Nelly and I came to London a month ago; and now she has left me, and I don't know what I am to do." "Why didn't your sister take you with her?" asked Mrs. Holdfast.