Her father lived only a year longer, then she and the little one passed into the charge of Mr.Boddy, who was paid a certain small sum by Trent's employers, in consideration of the death by accident.

Then came the commencement of Mr.Boddy's misfortunes; his shop and house were burnt down, he lost his limb in an endeavour to save his property, he lost his wife in consequence of the shock.

Dreary things for the memory, yet they did not weigh upon Lydia; she was so happily endowed that her mind selected and dwelt on sunny hours, on kind looks and words which her strong heart cherished unassailably, on the mutual charities which sorrow had begotten rather than on the sorrow itself.

Above all, the growing love of her dear one, of her to whom she was both mother and sister, had strengthened her against every trouble.

Yet of late this strongest passion of her life had become a source of grave anxieties, as often as circumstance caused her to look beyond her contentment.