She showed no sign of sorrow: but she spoke rarely to any one. A dead dull weight seemed to hang over her. To preachers, class-leaders, gossips, who upbraided her for not letting them see her mother, she replied by silence. People thought her becoming idiotic. The day after the last creditor was paid she packed up her little box: hired a cart to take her to the nearest coach; and vanished from Aberalva, without bidding farewell to a human being, even to her School-children. * * * * * Vavasour had been buried more than a week. Mark and Mary were sitting in the dining-room, Mark at his port and Mary at her work, when the footboy entered. "Sir, there's a young woman wants to speak with you." "Show her in, if she looks respectable," said Mark, who had slippers on, and his feet on the fender, and was, therefore, loth to move. "Oh, quite respectable, sir, as ever I see;" and the lad ushered in a figure, dressed and veiled in deep black. "Well, ma'am, sit down, pray; and what can I do for you!" "Can you tell me, sir," answered a voice of extraordinary sweetness and gentleness, very firm, and composed withal, "if Mr. Thomas Thurnall is in Whitbury?" "Thurnall? He has sailed for the East a week ago. May I ask your business with him? Can I help you in it?" The black damsel paused so long, that both Mary and her father felt uneasy, and a cloud passed over Mark's brow. "Can the boy have been playing tricks?" said he to himself. "Then, sir, as I hear that you have influence, can you get me a situation as one of the nurses who are going out thither, so I hear?" "Get you a situation? Yes, of course, if you are competent." "Thank you, sir. Perhaps, if you could be so very kind as to tell me to whom I am to apply in town; for I shall go thither to-night." "My goodness!" cried Mark. "Old Mark don't do things in this off-hand, cold-blooded way. Let us know who you are, my dear, and about Mr. Thurnall. Have you anything against him?" She was silent. "Mary, just step into the next room." "If you please, sir," said the same gentle voice, "I had sooner that the lady should stay. I have nothing against Mr. Thurnall, God knows. He has rather something against me." Another pause. Mary rose, and went up to her and took her hand. "Do tell us who you are, and if we can do anything for you." And she looked winningly up into her face. The stranger drew a long breath and lifted her veil. Mary and Mark both started at the beauty of the countenance which she revealed--but in a different way. Mark gave a grunt of approbation: Mary turned pale as death. "I suppose that it is but right and reasonable that I should tell you, at least give proof of my being an honest person. For my capabilities as a nurse--I believe you know Mrs. Vavasour? I heard that she has been staying here" "Of course. Do you know her?" A sad smile passed over her face.