"Is it you，Mr. St. John?" cried Hannah.

"Yes- yes; open quickly."

"Well，how wet and cold you must be，such a wild night as it is!

e in- your sisters are quite uneasy about you，and I believe there are bad folks about. There has been a beggar-woman- I declare she is not gone yet!- laid down there. Get up! for shame! Move off，I say!"

"Hush，Hannah! I have a word to say to the woman. You have done your duty in excluding，now let me do mine in admitting her. I was near，and listened to both you and her. I think this is a peculiar case- I must at least examine into it. Young woman，rise，and pass before me into the house."

With difficulty I obeyed him. presently I stood within that clean，bright kitchen- on the very hearth- trembling，sickening; conscious of an aspect in the last degree ghastly，wild，and weather-beaten. The two ladies，their brother，Mr. St. John，the old servant，were all gazing at me.

"St. John，who is it?" I heard one ask.

"I cannot tell: I found her at the door," was the reply.

"She does look white," said Hannah.

"As white as clay or death," was responded. "She will fall: let her sit."

And indeed my head swam: I dropped，but a chair received me. I still possessed my senses，though just now I could not speak.

"perhaps a little water would restore her. Hannah，fetch some.

But she is worn to nothing. How very thin，and how very bloodless!"