“Fanny Woodruff,” she replied.
The doctor's features became pale and rigid, and his eyes were fixed upon her almost immoveably.
“God bless my soul!” he slowly ejaculated, as he rose to leave the room; “she should have been lost, or dead!”
But he turned again when at the head of the stairs.
“Now, young woman,—if you can keep a secret,—tell nobody, not even your mistress, what has passed. Take no notice; and perhaps I may do something for you. But I thought we had seen the last of your face seventeen years ago!”
Fanny and Colin were left alone.
“He knows something about me!” was the first thought that arose in Fanny's mind. But she did not utter it, and only asked very softly, if Colin had heard what the doctor said.
“Yes,” he replied, “and I shall never forget it.”
“But, say nothing,” added the girl: “he promised to do something for me. I wonder what it is!”
“So do I,” added Colin; “something worth having, I dare say.”