CHAPTER XXXIII.
ANNA AND ADAH For a moment Anna was inclined to think that Pamelia had made a mistake.
That beautiful face, that refined, ladylike manner, did not suit well a waiting maid, and Anna's doubts were increasing, when little Willie set her right by patting her cheek again, while he called out: "Mamma, arntee." The look of interest which Anna cast upon him emboldened Adah to say: "Excuse him, Miss Richards; he must have mistaken you for a dear friend at home, whom he calls 'Auntie,' I'll take him down; he troubles you." "No, no," and Anna passed her arm around him.

"I love children so much.
I ought to have been a wife and mother, my brother says, instead of a useless old maid." Anna smiled faintly as she said this, while thoughts of Charlie Millbrook flashed across her mind.

Adah was too much a stranger to disclaim against Anna's calling herself old, so she paid no attention to the remark, but plunged at once into the matter which had brought her there.

Presuming they would rather be alone, Pamelia had purposely left the room, meeting in the lower hall with Mrs.Richards and her daughter, who, in much affright, were searching for the recent occupants of the reception-room.

Pamelia quieted them by saying: "The lady was in Miss Anna's room." "How came she there?
She must be a bold piece, upon my word!" she said, angrily, while Pamelia replied: "The little boy got upstairs, and walked right into Miss Anna's room.
She was taken with him at once, and asked who he was.