"How much do you pay here?" I inquired, for she had taken me so far into counsel that I felt justified in asking that question. "A pound a week," she answered. "A pound a week!" I repeated, in amazement. "Does Tardif know that?" "I don't think he does," she said. "When I had been here a week I gave Mrs. Tardif a sovereign, thinking perhaps she would give me a little out of it. I am not used to being poor, and I did not know how much I ought to pay. But she kept it all, and came to me every week for more. Was it too much to pay?" "Too much!" I said. "You should have spoken to Tardif about it, my poor child." "I could not talk to Tardif about his mother," she answered. "Besides, it would not have been too much if I had only had plenty. But it has made me so anxious. I did not know whatever I should do when it was all gone. I do not know now." Here was a capital opening for a question about her friends. "You will be compelled to communicate with your family," I said. "You have told me how poor you are; cannot you trust me about your friends?" "I have no friends," she answered, sorrowfully. "If I had any, do you suppose I should be here?" "I am one," I said, "and Tardif is another." "Ah, new friends," she replied; "but I mean real old friends who have known you all your life, like your mother, Dr. Martin, or your cousin Julia. I want somebody to go to who knows all about me, and say to them, after telling them every thing, keeping nothing back at all, 'Have I done right? What else ought I to have done?' No new friend could answer questions like those." Was there any reason I could bring forward to increase her confidence in me? I thought there was, and her friendlessness and helplessness touched me to the core of my heart. Yet it was with an indefinable reluctance that I brought forward my argument. "Miss Ollivier," I said, "I have no claim of old acquaintance or friendship, yet it is possible I might answer those questions, if you could prevail upon yourself to tell me the circumstances of your former life. In a few weeks I shall be in a position to show you more friendship than I can do now. I shall have a home of my own, and a wife who will be your friend more fittingly, perhaps, than myself." "I knew it," she answered, half shyly. "Tardif told me you were going to marry your cousin Julia." Just then we heard the fold-yard gate swing to behind some one who was coming to the house. CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH. ONE IN A THOUSAND. I had altogether forgotten that Captain Carey's yacht was waiting for me off the little bay below; and I sprang quickly to the door in the dread that he had followed me. It was an immense relief to see only Tardif's tall figure bending under his creel and nets, and crossing the yard slowly. I hailed him and he quickened his pace, his honest features lighting up at the sight of me. "How do you find mam'zelle, doctor?" were his first eager words.