"Never saw her before, miss, in all my life." I put no more
questions. Many ladies visit my father. They call it consulting
the Minister. He advises them in their troubles, and guides them
in their religious difficulties, and so on. They come and go in
a sort of secrecy. So far as I know, they are mostly old maids,
and they waste the Minister's time.

When my father came in to tea, I began to feel some curiosity
about the lady who had called on him. Visitors of that sort,
in general, never appear to dwell on his mind after they have
gone away; he sees too many of them, and is too well accustomed
to what they have to say. On this particular evening, however,
I perceived appearances that set me thinking; he looked worried
and anxious.

"Has anything happened, father, to vex you?" I said.

"Yes."

"Is the lady concerned in it?"

"What lady, my dear?"

"The lady who called on you while I was out."

"Who told you she had called on me?"

"I asked Maria--"

"That will do, Helena, for the present."