Mrs. Richards fainted. She soon recovered, however, and listened eagerly

while Anna repeated all her brother had ever told her of Lily.

Poor Willie! He was there in the bed, looking curiously at the four

women, none of whom seemed quite willing to own him save Anna. Her heart

took him in at once. He had been given to her. She would be faithful to

the trust, and folding him in her arms, she cried softly over him,

kissing his little face and calling him her darling.

"Anna, how can you fondle such as he?" Eudora asked, rather sharply.

"He is our brother's child. Mother, you will not turn from your

grandson," and Anna held the boy toward her mother, who did not refuse

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to take him.

Asenath always went with her mother, and at once showed signs of

relenting by laying her hand on Willie's head and calling him "poor

boy." Eudora held out longer, but Anna knew she would yield in time,

and satisfied with Willie's reception so far, went on to speak of Adah.

Where was she, did they suppose, and what were the best means of finding

her.

At this Mrs. Richards demurred, as did Asenath with her.

"Adah was gone, and they had better let her go quietly. She was nothing

to them, nothing whatever, and if they took Willie in, doing their best

with him as one of the Richards' line, it was all that could be required

of them. Had Adah been John's wife, it would of course be different, but

she was not, and his marriage with 'Lina must not now be prevented."

This was Mrs. Richards' reasoning, but Anna's was different.

"John had distinctly said, 'I married Lily and she died.' Adah was

mistaken about the marriage being unlawful. It was a falsehood he told

her. She was his wife, and he must not be permitted to commit bigamy.

She would tell John in private. They need not try to dissuade her, for

she should go."

This was what Anna said, and all in vain were her mother's entreaties to

let matters take their course. Anna only replied by going deliberately

on with the preparations for her sudden journey. She was going to find

Rose, and blessing her for this kindness to one whom they had liked so

much, Dixson and Pamelia helped to get her ready, both promising the

best care to Willie in her absence, both asking where she was going

first and both receiving the same answer, "To Albany."

Mrs. Richards was too much stunned clearly to comprehend what had

happened or what would be the result; and in a kind of apathetic maze

she bade Anna good-by, and then went back to where Willie sat upon the

sofa, examining and occasionally tearing the costly book of foreign

prints which had been given him to keep him still and make him cease his

piteous wail for "mamma." It seemed like a dream to the three ladies

sitting at home that night and talking about Anna, wondering that a

person of her weak nerves and feeble health should suddenly become so

active, so energetic, so decided, and of her own accord start off on a

long journey alone and unprotected.




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