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into which she was fast sinking by a loud and piercing
shriek, and looking up, perceived a lady, whose foot had struck
against a stone, thrown violently to the ground. She had not
strength to obey the impulse of her ever feeling heart, to
run, but, rising with difficulty, crept to the person, who
groaned most pitieously. She assisted her to rise, but found
the lady's ankle was sprained, and that she could not stand
by herself. Unable as Lucy was to bear any additional
burden, she however offered her arm, and begged the
stranger to lean on her for support. The offer was willingly
accepted, they tottered on to the gravel path, which they
reached with some difficulty. "Is that a child, you are
holding in your arm?" Lucy burst into tears,--for she could
not speak, and when her companion, lifted the cloak with
which it was covered, she was much shocked to see an
apparently dead infant! Oh heaven's" exclaim'd she--"what is the
meaning of this? Who are you?" "An out-cast--wretch
who had not a shelter where to lie down and die."--replied Lucy--
"Poor creature,--poor soul," said the lady, "then you shall