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276 affairs to Isabel Lindsay. Mrs. Troubridge was upon honour there.

If it had not been for a sad event which occurred shortly after the girls had paid their visit they might have thought very little more about Mrs. Troubridge, though they liked the children and found them very smart and Mr. Troubridge had been complaining of not feeling very well when they were at Richlands, but there was not much the matter, and he was generally so strong and healthy that no one took alarm. But a neglected cold brought on violent inflammatory symptoms, and when medical aid was called in the case was critical and Within a fortnight of the day when they had last seen him they heard that he was hopelessly ill; and that Mrs. Troubridge was almost distracted with grief and worn out with fatigue. Mr. Lufton had acted like a good neighbour and a true friend, and had done everything in his power to help Mrs. Troubridge. She had no unmarried sister who could come to relieve her, and she sent to Branxholm to entreat Amy to come. It would do her so much good just to look at her. Amy could not refuse such a request, and she hastened to Richlands.

She found Mrs. Troubridge in a state of such bewildering grief that surprised her. Her