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"She must always have had a wonderful character"

"For that, yes," and the Duchesse paused a moment, then went on:

"Quite a tremendous character, and as Bobby sank and poor Hilda becath, and supported

them all Since the war cas

The father is without conscience, and of a selfishness unspeakable! His

money all went to him for his use, and Alatheé was left to supplement

the mother's wretched two or three thousand francs a year And now that

brute has again cheated at cards, and poor Hilda ca your words, Nicholas, I called upon you It

would have been too cruel for the poor woave it to this infaht Alatheé knows nothing about it"

Light was dawning upon me The ads of both wife and daughter!

"Duchesse, why did you not wish me to know the real name, and would not

help me at all about 'Miss Sharp,'--won't you now tell me your reason?"

The Duchesse shaded her eyes from the fire with a hand-screen, and it

came between us, and I could not see her face, but her voice changed