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"Prudence will never come back," said La Masque, quietly

"Madame!"

"My dear, do not look so shocked--it is not her fault You know she

deserted you for fear of the plague"

"Yes, yes!"

"Well, that did not save her; nay, it even brought on what she dreaded

so ue-stricken, my dear, and lies ill unto death

in the pesthouse in Finsbury Fields"

"Oh, dreadful!" exclaimed Leoline, while every drop of blood fled from

her face "My poor, poor old nurse!"

"Your poor, poor old nurse left you withoutof the sa The suddenness, the shock drove her to it My

poor, dear Prudence"

"Well, you can do nothing for her now," said La Masque, in a tone of

slight impatience "Prudence is beyond all human aid, and so--let her

rest in peace You were carried to the plague-pit yourself, for dead,

were you not?"

"Yes," answered the pale lips, while she shivered all over at the

recollection

"And was saved by--by ere you saved, entlemen"

"Oh, I know that; ere their names?"