' Lilias had gone to Peru with the Carrs ; but
though I had made over my own child as a
peace-offering, still my conscience would not let
me rest. Their real child Marjory was still
missing, and I felt as though I were responsible
for her. I had a sort of wild fancy in my head,
that if I could only find you, the wrong might
still be undone at some future time ; and, as I
said befcjre, though you may not believe me, I
was that fond of you, that I was anxious to find
you again for my own sake.
* Well, you remember that morning in Ken-
sington Gardens, and how I claimed you for my
own child. It seemed to me that nothing else
would suit my purposes. I durst not tell
Ephraim the truth, for I had learned to fear
him as only a weak creature like myself can



MRS. CARR RETURNS TO ENGLAND, 65

fear, and yet I durst not lose sight of you
entirely.
*For four years, I had gone to bed every
night quaking to think into what hands you
might have fallen; and such a weight seemed
lifted off me when I saw the people who had
adopted you, and knew that they were real
gentlefolk, and would bring you up like their
own, and that you would miss nothing.
