paid them, and often smiled at recollections which would have moved the servile mind to venomous abuse. 

 At nine o’clock they took a cup of cocoa and a biscuit, and half an hour later they went to bed. Lamp oil was costly; and indeed they felt glad to say as early as possible that another day had gone by. 

 Their hour of rising was eight. Mrs. Conisbee provided hot water for their breakfast. On descending to fetch it, Virginia found that the postman had left a letter for her. The writing on the envelope seemed to be a stranger’s. She ran upstairs again in excitement. 

 “Who can this be from, Alice?” 

 The elder sister had one of her headaches this morning; she was clay colour, and tottered in moving about. The close atmosphere of the bedroom would alone have accounted for such a malady. But an unexpected letter made her for the moment oblivious of suffering. 

 “Posted in London,” she said, examining the envelope eagerly. 

 “Some one you have been in correspondence with?” 

 “It’s months since I wrote to any one in London.” 

 For full five minutes they debated the mystery, afraid of dashing their hopes by breaking the envelope. At length Virginia summoned courage. Standing at a distance from the other, she took out the sheet of paper with tremulous hand, and glanced fearfully at the signature. 

 “What do you think? It’s Miss Nunn!” 

 “Miss Nunn! Never! How could she have got the address?” 

 Again the difficulty was discussed whilst its ready solution lay neglected. 

 “Do read it!” said Alice at length, her throbbing head, made worse by the agitation, obliging her to sink down into the chair. 

 The letter ran thus:— 

 “DEAR Miss MADDEN,—This morning I chanced to meet with Mrs. Darby, who was passing through London on her way home from the seaside. We had only five minutes’ talk (it was at a railway station), but she mentioned that you were at present in London, and gave me your address. After all these years, how glad I should be to see you! The struggle of life has made me selfish; I have neglected my old friends. And yet I am bound to add that some of them have neglected me. Would you rather that I came to your 

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