" I remain, your affectionate aunt,

"Margaret Neville."

I read this letter over two or three times before I quite
took in its meaning — plain enough although it was. After
sitting before the fire for nearly half-an-hour buried in
profound reflection, I made up my mind to keep the news
of my new-found relatives to myself (for the present^ at
any rate) ; to say nothing to Miss Fluker, who would retail
the information to the Misses Gurry, as a choice morsel of
news, but who would feel no real interest whatever in the
matter. I kept my secret — I had, unfortunately, an un-
developed talent for a certain kind of silence — and wrote
to my aunt the following maU, thanking her for her letter,
and telling her that I was provided with a home, and had
no wish to leave Oallow ; but that I hoped to see her some
day, and begged that she would not lose sight of me again,
as I was only too glad to sign myself her affectionate niece,
Nora O'Neill

Since I had returned from Dublin I observed that Mr.
