Henry and Gertrude had been married nearly two years before Isabella knew anything of the event, and it was merely by accident that she became acquainted with the facts.
One beautiful afternoon, when Isabella and Clotelle were picking wild strawberries some two miles from their home, and near the road-side, they observed a one-horse chaise driving past.

The mother turned her face from the carriage not wishing to be seen by strangers, little dreaming that the chaise contained Henry and his wife.

The child, however, watched the chaise, and startled her mother by screaming out at the top of her voice, "Papa! papa!" and clapped her little hands for joy.

The mother turned in haste to look at the strangers, and her eyes encountered those of Henry's pale and dejected countenance.

Gertrude's eyes were on the child.