Mr. Staunton, the more especially as Amy was such a dear little creature, and it would have been so delightful to have had her at home.
Mrs. Hammond knew that Amy had written to her father's sister, and she buoyed herself up with the conviction that Mrs. Evans must send for her, and then there would be an end of all this; so as soon as there was the needful time allowed for the receipt of an answer, she reminded Mr. Hammond that it was probable the child would be written for, and he very willingly rode across to enquire. He, too, was desirous that Amy should be removed from the immediate neighbourhood, and felt convinced by his wife's strong impression, that, whatever Amy's mother might have been, her father's sister, whom he knew to be the wife of an English rector in the country, would see it to be her duty to take care of his orphan.
But the letter was as unsatisfactory as possible. Even though the family of Lindsays were pleased to think that Amy was not going away, they were very indignant at the spirit and tone of the letter. After expressing her sorrow at her brother's sudden death, and her cautious hopes that he was prepared for the momentous change, Mrs. Evans glanced at the unfeeling conduct of the family, on whom her brother had some claim, and then praised in the most glowing terms the gene-
