[Yabasic-users] Ust have been her mother, of a lad who called her sister, and kissed her sometimes, of a c

[Skrzypek S. <mis...@kl...>]

 calling herself old, so she paid no attention to the remark, but
plunged at once into the matter which had brought her there. Presuming
they would rather be alone, Pamelia had purposely left the room, meeting
in the lower hall with Mrs. Richards and her daughter, who, in much
affright, were searching for the recent occupants of the reception-room.
Pamelia quieted them by saying: "The lady was in Miss Anna's room." "How
came she there? She must be a bold piece, upon my word!" she said,
angrily, while Pamelia replied: "The little boy got upstairs, and walked
right into Miss Anna's room. She was taken with him at once, and asked
who he was. I told her and she sent for the lady. That's how it
happened." Mrs. Richards hurried up to Anna's chamber, where Willie
still was perched by Anna's pillow, while Adah, with her bonnet in her
lap, sat a little apart, traces of tears and agitation upon her cheeks,
but a look of happiness in the brown eyes fixed so wistfully on Anna's
fair, sweet face. "Please, mother," said Anna, motioning her away,
"leave us alone a while. Shut the door, and see that no one comes near."
Mrs. Richards obeyed, and Anna, waiting until she was out of hearing,
resumed the conversation just where it had been interrupted. "And so you
are the one who wrote that advertisement which I read. Let me see--the
very night my brother came home from Europe. I remember he laughed
because I was so interested, and he accidentally tore off the name to
light his cigar, so I forgot it entirely. What shall I call you,
please?" Adah was tempted to answer her at once, "Adah Hastings"--it
seemed so wrong to impose in any way on that frank, sweet woman; but she
remembered Mrs. Worthington's injunction, and for her sake she
refrained, keeping silent a moment, and then breaking out impetuously:
"Please, Miss Richards, don't ask my real name, for I'd rather not give
it now. I will tell you of the past, though I did not ever mean to do
that; but something about you makes