The next day Lady Stanley's woman waited on Louisa, to acquaint her with the result of the inquiries which she had been directed to make concerning the young embroiderer: but the only information to be obtained was from Mrs. Mason, her landlady, who appeared unwilling to communicate more to Mrs. Martin than that the young lady was unfortunate. ‘If,’ said she, Miss Fitzormond/ will condescend to pay her a visit, I have no doubt but that she will confide her sorrows to her. I am not unacquainted with the particulars of her life, or present situation; but what I do know was told me in confidence; therefore I cannot impart them to any one without her permission: but it would be doing an act of the truest benevolence to procure her the countenance and sympathy of so good a lady as Miss Fitzormond.’

‘I ventured to assure the kind landlady,’ said Martin, ‘that you would come and see the poor young lady, and administer all the comfort in your power, for I said that neither Mr. Howard, Mrs. Martha, his worthy sister, or Miss Fitzormond, had ever been used to turn a deaf ear to the cries of distress, or the misfortunes of any one.’

‘I should be unworthy the love of the amiable being you have mentioned,/ if I did,’ interrupted Louisa; ‘for he, and the dear departed monitress of my youth, always took pains to impress on my mind the sacred duty of doing good to my suffering fellow-creatures as the first of virtues; and while I have the power, I will never neglect any opportunity that offers of performing that duty.’