"We have been very sorry for you, Miss Lee. Indeed, ours has been a house of mourning also; for there are cases where the same grief touches many hearts. I have wept for you, my child--prayed for you." "I know it--I was sure of it," answered Jessie, resting her proud young head on the old lady's shoulder, and weeping those soft, warm tears that relieve the heart so much. "I have thought of you and of him. Tell me that your grandson is no worse." The old lady kissed her again, and tenderly smoothed the glossy hair upon her temples. "He is no worse, dear child--a little better, I think, since we have been quite alone--the tranquillity has done him good." "I should like to see him," said Jessie. "Miss Hyde and I have missed him so much in our loneliness." The old lady cast a grateful glance at me; then, turning to Jessie, she said,-- "It would make him strong enough to come, if he knew that his sweet friend desired it." Jessie looked at that dear old face earnestly, and smiled through her tears. "You are very kind." While we were sitting together, Mr. Lee came in. He had seen Mrs. Bosworth's carriage at the door, and, knowing how seldom the old lady went out, sought her to pay his respects. It is seldom that two persons so thoroughly bred, and so singularly intelligent as Mr. Lee and our visitor, ever meet. Notwithstanding the sorrow that oppressed us, the conversation which sprang out of the first greeting brought cheerfulness with it. They did not talk directly of our loss, but every subject touched upon had a tinge of sadness in it, which betrayed the buried feelings and sympathy which lay behind. I had not believed that such power of pleasing could be carried into extreme old age, as this old lady manifested. While we were conversing, Mrs. Dennison came in, much to our astonishment; for of late she had rather avoided both Jessie and myself. Mr. Lee presented her to our visitor, who put on her stateliest manner, and, after rising, stood as if ready to go; but her clear eyes were fixed on Mrs. Dennison's face, and she seemed reading her to the soul. I think that Mrs. Dennison was, for once, awed by the moral force opposed to her; for such it really was. The graceful flippancy of manner, which most people considered so captivating, refused to come into action, and, for the moment, she really was awkward. "I did not know that you had guests," said the old lady, with a stiff bend of the head. "If I remember, Mr. Lawrence told me that this lady would leave the neighborhood about the time he did." The color flashed into Mrs. Dennison's face, and she replied, with suppressed anger,-- "Mr. Lawrence presumed, madam, when he ventured to regulate my movements by his own." Again the old lady gave her a quiet, searching look, and, without replying, moved toward the door. Jessie and I went down to the terrace with Mrs. Bosworth, while Mr. Lee took her to the carriage. CHAPTER LVI. LOTTIE'S REVELATIONS.