"But why do you wish to conceal?" she asked, after Adah had finished.

"Is there any reason?"

"At first there was none in particular, save a fancy I had, but there

came one afterward--the request of one who had been, kind to me as a

dear mother. Is it wrong not to tell the whole?"

"I think not. You have dealt honestly with me so far, but what shall I

call you? You must have a name."

"Oh, may I stay?" Adah asked eagerly, forgetting her late terror of

'Lina.

"Of course you may. Did you think I would turn you away?" was Anna's

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reply; and laying her head upon the white counterpane of the bed, Adah

cried passionately; not a wild, bitter cry, but a delicious kind of cry

which did her good, even though her whole frame quivered and her low,

choking sobs fell distinctly on Anna's ear.

"Poor child!" the latter said, laying her soft hand on the bowed head.

"You have suffered much, but with me you shall find rest. I want you for

a companion, rather than a maid. I, too, have had my heart troubles;

not like yours, but heavy enough to make me wish I could die."

It was seldom that Anna alluded to herself in this way, and to do so to

a stranger was utterly foreign to the Richards' nature. But Anna could

not help it. There was something about Adah which interested her

greatly. She could not wholly shield her from her mother's and sisters'

pride, but she would do what she could.

"Oh, pride, pride," she whispered to herself, "of how much pain hast

thou been the cause."

Pride had sent her Charlie over the sea without her; pride had separated

her brother from the Lily she was sure he loved, as he could never love

the maiden to whom he was betrothed; and pride, it seemed, had been at

the root of all this young girl's sorrow. Blessed Anna Richards--the

world has few like her--so gentle, so kind, so lovely, and as no one

could long be with her and not feel her influence, so Adah, by the touch

of the fingers still caressing her, was soothed into peaceful quiet.

When she had grown quite calm, Anna continued: "You have not told me yet

what name to give you, or shall I choose one for you?"

"Oh, if you only would!" and Adah looked up quickly.

Anna began to enjoy this mystery, wondering what name she should choose.

Adah should be Rose Markham, and she repeated it aloud, asking Adah how

it sounded.

"If it did not seem so much like deceiving," Adah said. "You'll tell

your family it is not my real name, won't you?"

Anna readily agreed to Adah's proposal, and then, remembering that all

this time she had been sitting in her cloak and fur, she bade her lay

them aside. "Or, stay," she added, "touch that bell, if you please, and

ring Pamelia up. There's a little room adjoining this. I mean to give

you that. You will be so near me, and so retired, too, when you like.

John--that's my brother--occupied it when a boy. I think it will answer

nicely for you."




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