“I do not want it, for it has been the curse of my life! It tempted me, and made me the sinner that I am!” Louise answered, bitterly, as she turned away, and without a word of farewell to any one, left the house which she had entered so proudly but a little while ago. Perhaps the hard old aunt remembered those words and reflected on them; for when she died, several years later, it was found that, after a legacy of twenty thousand dollars to Cecil Laurens’ wife, she had given twenty thousand to John Keith, and Ferndale and all her other estates to her grandniece, little Lucy Keith. “It will keep the money in the family; and John Keith is a good man, and deserves something for taking Louise back after all her wickedness, and trying to make a good woman out of such poor material,” she wrote. To her servants each she left a small legacy of five hundred dollars, which made them very grateful and happy; and they forgot all her faults, and lauded “Ole Mistis” to the skies. Ferndale was shut up for a long time, and then sold, for John Keith could never bring his family back to the county where the story of his wife’s wicked schemes was for years a subject of gossip. * * * * * “I shall leave here as soon as I can make some arrangements for mother and Dot,” Cecil said, when he had bidden John Keith farewell and God-speed. “I must lose no time in seeking my wife, and revealing to her my knowledge of the treachery that parted us.” It touched him to see his stately mother sobbing forlornly in Dot’s sympathizing arms. He knew it was sorrow and remorse for her hardness to his wife. “Do not fret, mother. She was such a loving little soul, I am sure she will forgive you when she finds that you are sorry,” he said, gently. “I will write to her, Cecil, as soon as you find her. I will humble myself as I deserve to do until I win her pardon,” she sobbed. “And I, too!” Mrs. Barry exclaimed, dashing a suspicious moisture from her eyes. “Dear girl! I always loved her until Louise set me against her. I would have pardoned her that night when she asked me so sweetly, only my wicked niece hustled me out of the room before I could answer the poor child!” CHAPTER XLVI. A few days after, Cecil was _en route_ for England. Doctor Laurens and his wife bore him company, for the young doctor was anxious to aid in the search for his sister-in-law, in whom he had had such loyal faith so long. Arrived in London, they put up as usual at their favorite Langham, and the gentlemen sallied forth in search of Florine Dabol. At the address Louise had given them they found her parents--a decrepit pair of old French people. Florine was down in the country they said. She was lady’s maid to a great, rich lady, but she had never told them her name. Their daughter came to see them about twice a year, and gave them money to live on, but they never wrote letters to her nor received any communication from her in the interim.