The New Magdalen

ected alternately to Colonel Roseberry and to the Honorable Mrs. Roseberry, contained a correspondence between the husband and wife at a time when the Colonel

Journal at Rome.” A brief examination showed that the journal had been written by Miss Ro

bore this address: “Lady Janet Roy, Mablethorpe House, Kensington, London.” Mercy took the inclosure from the open envelope. The first lines she

n the character of a poor man. Fervent expressions of gratitude followed, addressed to Lady Janet. “I owe it to you,” the letter concluded, “that I am dying with my mind at ease about the future of my darling girl. To your generous protection I commit the one treasure I have left to me on earth.

ne waiting to receive her — a woman so merciful and so generous that the father’s mind had been easy about the daughter on

ry’s death on the blank page at the end. She was still considering what expressions she should use, when the sound of complaining voices fro

led and tender hands that soothed their pain. They kissed the hem of her black dress, they called her their guardian angel, as the beautiful creature moved among them, and bent over their hard pillows

the men replied; “

what Christian judgment would have hesitated to declare that there was a place for this woman in heaven? But if the wa

seating herself to write, she stood by the tabl

she had done for her all that one woman could do to help another. There was in this circumstance some little claim to notice, perhaps, if Lady Janet had no other companion and reader in view. Suppose she ventured to plead her own cause — what would the noble and merciful

of the beauty of Mablethorpe House and the comfort and elegance of the life that was led there. Once more she thought of the chance which Miss Roseberry had

from her, and walked impati

she might, do what she might, it would always end in the same way. Curiosity and admiration excited by her beauty; inquiries made about her; the story of the past discovered; Society charitably sorry for her; Society generously subscribing for her; and still, through all the years of her life, the same result in the end — the shadow of the old disgrace surrounding her

bedside; she looked again

ance! If I only had your reputation and your prospects!” And there was the chance wasted! there were the enviable prospects thrown away! It was almost maddening to contemplate that result, feeling her own position as she f

uld stifle her. “If you could be Mercy Merrick, and if I could be Grace Roseberry, now!” In one breathless moment the thought assumed a new development in her mind. In one breathless moment the convictio

Where was the weak

nate: Grace had spoken herself — her father’s letter spoke also in the plainest terms — of her neglected education. Everything, literally everything, was in the lost woman’s favor. The people with whom she had been connected in the ambulance had gone, to return no more. Her own clothes were on Miss Roseberry at that moment — marked with her own name. Miss Roseberry’s clothes, marked with her name, were drying, at Mercy’s disposal, in the next roo

wn daring project from another point of view. Wher

oman who was dead? The question answered itself. No injury to the

and grateful for kindness — if, in one word, she was all that she might be and would be in the heavenly peace and security of that new life — what injury was

ers. The opportunity was before her; the chances were all in her favor; her conscience

she was not at ease; she was not quite sure of having fairly questioned her conscience yet. What if she laid the letter-case on the table again, and

her on the night air. The Germans were entering the village! In a few minutes more they would appear in the cottage; they would summon her to give an account

s at her disposal. Her resolute nature, forced to a choice on the instant, held by

nearer and nearer. The voices of the office

he table, waiting stead

fect order, her eyes fell upon the red cross on her left shoulder. In a moment it struck her that her nurse’s costume might involve her in

nt to Grace attracted her attention. She took it

e wait to be discovered? or should she show herself of her own accord? It was less trying to such a nature as hers to show herself than to wait. She advanced to enter the ki