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communicate this addition to her distress。 〃Mrs。 Lomax telled me she
went〃
〃Mrs。 Lomaxwhat Mrs。 Lomax？〃
〃Her as lives in Brabazon Street。 She telled me my poor wench went
to the workhouse fra there。 I'll not speak again the dead； but if
her father would but ha' letten mebut he were one who had no
notionno； I'll not say that； best say nought。 He forgave her on
his death…bed。 I daresay I did na go th' right way to work。〃
〃Will you hold the child for me one instant？〃 said Susan。
〃Ay； if it will come to me。 Childer used to be fond on me till I got
the sad look on my face that scares them； I think。〃
But the little girl clung to Susan； so she carried it upstairs with
her。 Mrs。 Leigh sat by herselfhow long she did not know。
Susan came down with a bundle of far…worn baby…clothes。
〃You must listen to me a bit； and not think too much about what I'm
going to tell you。 Nanny is not my niece； nor any kin to me； that I
know of。 I used to go out working by the day。 One night； as I came
home； I thought some woman was following me； I turned to look。 The
woman； before I could see her face （for she turned it to one side）；
offered me something。 I held out my arms by instinct； she dropped a
bundle into them； with a bursting sob that went straight to my heart。
It was a baby。 I looked round again； but the woman was gone。 She
had run away as quick as lightning。 There was a little packet of
clothesvery fewand as if they were made out of its mother's
gowns； for they were large patterns to buy for a baby。 I was always
fond of babies； and I had not my wits about me； father says； for it
was very cold； and when I'd seen as well as I could （for it was past
ten） that there was no one in the street； I brought it in and warmed
it。 Father was very angry when he came； and said he'd take it to the
workhouse the next morning； and flyted me sadly about it。 But when
morning came I could not bear to part with it； it had slept in my
arms all night； and I've heard what workhouse bringing…up is。 So I
told father I'd give up going out working and stay at home and keep
school； if I might only keep the baby； and； after a while； he said if
I earned enough for him to have his comforts； he'd let me； but he's
never taken to her。 Now； don't tremble soI've but a little more to
telland maybe I'm wrong in telling it； but I used to work next door
to Mrs。 Lomax's； in Brabazon Street； and the servants were all thick
together； and I heard about Bessy （they called her） being sent away。
I don't know that ever I saw her； but the time would be about fitting
to this child's age； and I've sometimes fancied it was hers。 And
now； will you look at the little clothes that came with herbless
her！〃
But Mrs。 Leigh had fainted。 The strange joy and shame； and gushing
love for the little child； had overpowered her； it was some time
before Susan could bring her round。 There she was all trembling；
sick with impatience to look at the little frocks。 Among them was a
slip of paper which Susan had forgotten to name； that had been pinned
to the bundle。 On it was scrawled in a round stiff hand …
〃Call her Anne。 She does not cry much； and takes a deal of notice。
God bless you and forgive me。〃
The writing was no clue at all； the name 〃Anne；〃 common though it
was； seemed something to build upon。 But Mrs。 Leigh recognised one
of the frocks instantly； as being made out of a part of a gown that
she and her daughter had bought together in Rochdale。
She stood up； and stretched out her hands in the attitude of blessing
over Susan's bent head。
〃God bless you； and show you His mercy in your need； as you have
shown it to this little child。〃
She took the little creature in her arms； and smoothed away her sad
looks to a smile； and kissed it fondly； saying over and over again；
〃Nanny； Nanny； my little Nanny。〃 At last the child was soothed； and
looked in her face and smiled back again。
〃It has her eyes；〃 said she to Susan。
〃I never saw her to the best of my knowledge。 I think it must be
hers by the frock。 But where can she be？〃
〃God knows；〃 said Mrs。 Leigh； 〃I dare not think she's dead。 I'm sure
she isn't。〃
〃No； she's not dead。 Every now and then a little packet is thrust in
under our door； with； may be； two half…crowns in it； once it was
half…a…sovereign。 Altogether I've got seven…and…thirty shillings
wrapped up for Nanny。 I never touch it； but I've often thought the
poor mother feels near to God when she brings this money。 Father
wanted to set the policeman to watch； but I said No； for I was afraid
if she was watched she might not come； and it seemed such a holy
thing to he checking her in； I could not find in my heart to do it。〃
〃Oh； if we could but find her！ I'd take her in my arms； and we'd
just lie down and die together。〃
〃Nay； don't speak so！〃 said Susan； gently； 〃for all that's come and
gone； she may turn right at last。 Mary Magdalen did； you know。〃
〃Eh！ but I were nearer right about thee than Will。 He thought you
would never look on him again if you knew about Lizzie。 But thou'rt
not a Pharisee。〃
〃I'm sorry he thought I could be so hard；〃 said Susan in a low voice；
and colouring up。 Then Mrs。 Leigh was alarmed； and； in her motherly
anxiety； she began to fear lest she had injured Will in Susan's
estimation。
〃You see Will thinks so much of yougold would not be good enough
for you to walk on； in his eye。 He said you'd never look at him as
he was； let alone his being brother to my poor wench。 He loves you
so； it makes him think meanly on everything belonging to himself； as
not fit to come near ye； but he's a good lad； and a good son。
Thou'lt be a happy woman if thou'lt have him； so don't let my words
go against himdon't！〃
But Susan hung her head； and made no answer。 She had not known until
now that Will thought so earnestly and seriously about her； and even
now she felt afraid that Mrs。 Leigh's words promised her too much
happiness； and that they could not be true。 At any rate； the
instinct of modesty made her shrink from saying anything which might
seem like a confession of her own feelings to a third person。
Accordingly she turned the conversation on the child。
〃I am sure he could not help loving Nanny；〃 said she。 〃There never
was such a good little darling； don't you think she'd win his heart
if he knew she was his niece； and perhaps bring him to think kindly
on his sister？〃
〃I dunnot know；〃 said Mrs。 Leigh； shaking her head。 〃He has a turn
in his eye like his father； that makes me He's right down good
though。 But you see； I've never been a good one at managing folk；
one severe look turns me sick； and then I say just the wrong thing；
I'm so fluttered。 Now I should like nothing better than to take
Nancy home with me； but Tom knows nothing but that his sister is
dead； and I've not the knack of speaking rightly to Will。 I dare not
do it； and tha