Hannah Worth stood looking after the lady for some little space of time. Hannah was an accurate reader of character, and she had seen at the first glance that this pale, sad, but most beautiful woman could not be the bad, artful, deceitful creature that her husband had been led to believe and to represent her. And she wondered what mistake it could possibly have been that had estranged Herman Brudenell from his lovely wife and left his heart vacant for the reception of another and a most fatal passion.
"Whatever it may have been, I have nothing to do with it. I pity the gentle lady, but I cannot accept her bounty for Nora's child," said Hannah, dismissing the subject from her thoughts and returning to her work.
In this manner, from one plausible motive or another, was all help rejected for the orphan boy.
It seemed as if Providence were resolved to cast the infant helpless upon life, to show the world what a poor boy might make of himself, by God's blessing on his own unaided efforts!
CHAPTER XVIII.
BERENICE.
It was yet early in the afternoon when Berenice reached Brudenell Hall.
Before going to her own apartments she looked into the drawing room, and seeing Mrs. Brudenell, inquired:
"Any news of Herman yet, mamma, dear?"