"You offer to comfort and help me! Me--a perfect stranger, with a

cloud of dishonor hanging over me! Oh, madam, if you knew all, you

would certainly withdraw your kind offer," she said.

"I will not withdraw it in any event. I do know all that your landlord

could tell me, and that awakens my deepest sympathy for you. But I do

not know all that you could tell me. Now, dear, I want you to confide

in me as you could not confide either in your landlord, or even in his

mother."

"Oh, no, no! I could not tell either of them. They were kind; but--oh,

so hard!"

"Now, dear, then, look in my face, look well, and tell me whether you

can confide in me," said Sybil, gently.

"If I had never seen your heavenly countenance--if I had only heard

your heavenly voice, I could confide in you, as in the holy mother of

Christ," said the stranger fervently.

"Tell me then, dear; tell me all you wish to tell; relieve your heart;

lay all your burdens on my bosom; and then you shall feel how well I can

comfort and help you," said Sybil, putting her hand around the fair neck

and drawing the little golden-haired head upon her breast.

Then and there the friendless young stranger--friendless now, no

more--told her piteous story.




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