Almost for the first time a great doubt had seized her, a doubt that made her tremble and fear.

Through many long years she had clung to Madaline--she had thought her love and tender care of more consequence to the child than anything else.

Knowing nothing of her father's rank or position, she had flattered herself into believing that she had been Madaline's best friend in childhood.

Now there came to her a terrible doubt.

What if she had stood in Madaline's light, instead of being her friend?
She had not been informed of the arrangements between the doctor and his patron, but people had said to her, when the doctor died, that the child had better be sent to the work-house--and that had frightened her.