"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Blenners; I meant to say like a diamond glittering in the golden setting of your most respectable house. Besides, I have to thank you for giving me the opportunity of finding her here. I'm sure you've been kind to her."
"Kind! I've been a mother to that girl."
"Where is my father?" said Mary, looking wildly around.
"Poor girl!" said Mrs. Blenners; "she hasn't heard from her father for months, and she thinks he's dead."
"He is dead," Bill whispered to Mrs. Blenners.
"Then she might have seen his ghost."
Mary now sat up, and pointed to the letter which was still in her hand.
"Where did you get that?" she said to Bill, "and that?" pointing to the photograph.
Bill told as much as he thought necessary, while the girl rose to her feet. Gradually, and as gently as possible, he told her of her father's death, also that he had advertised for her, and now, after a long time, had found her, and that she was the owner of thousands of pounds.
Mary could hardly believe her ears. She seemed to hear the words in a dream, and did not understand the meaning of them. They appeared to be the echo of something she had heard long ago.