Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: Then suddenly drawing herself back from Norah, with a passionate gesture of anguish, the unhappy Sophy exclaimed, "Oh! if you but knew my misery—the darkness here—everywhere; no hope! no hope!" She threw herself down on her bed, and covered her face with her hands.] THE CONVICT'S CHILD; OR, The Helmet of Hope. BY A. L. O. E. AUTHORESS OF THE CLAREMONT TALES, THE YOUNG PILGRIM, THE COTTAGE BY THE STREAM, HARRY DANGERFIELD, GLIMPSES OF THE UNSEEN, ETC. ETC. GALL & INGLIS. London: Edinburgh: 30 PATERNOSTER ROW. 6 GEORGE STREET. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. NORAH'S DIFFICULTY II. CONSULTATION III. THE COTTAGE IN THE DELL IV. THE WORKHOUSE V. SOPHY'S TALE VI. HOPE VII. THE RETURN VIII. SUCCESS The Convict's Child; OR, THE HELMET OF HOPE. CHAPTER I. NORAH'S DIFFICULTY. "ANY one of this name live here?" asked the postman, as he held out a letter to Norah, the little maid-of-all-work, who was on her knees cleaning the door-step on a wintry morning at the close of the year. "'Miss Peele,' why, that must mean me!" cried the young girl, with naive surprise. It was the first time in her life that Norah had ever received a letter, and it was with feelings of wonder and curiosity that she took from the postman the note so strangely addressed to herself. She looked at every part of the envelope, post-mark, address, fancy-wafer and all, to prolong the novel pleasure by guessing who could have sent it, and what the contents could be. "It can't be from mother,—she never writes but her name at the bottom of the washing bills; and as for Dan—he's not out of round text. Could it be from Uncle Ned? It is not like a man's handwriting, and I'm sure he would, never put 'Miss' for a little servant like me. I must just peep in and see, I was never so curious in all my life!" Norah wiped her wet cold hands on her apron, and then, taking care to save the pretty wafer, opened the envelope, and took out the note. She raised her eyebrows with surprise at the first word, "Madam," and almost burst out laughing at the notion of being thus addressed; but Norah's mirth changed to grave perplexity, as she turned hastily over to the signature at the end.