"Being left alone now with my grandmother, I resolved to go to London
and try to find employment in the great city. We had not been long
here, and I had not yet obtained employment when an extraordinary event
occurred which has ever since embittered my life. I went out for a walk
one day, and was robbed."
"How strange!" I exclaimed, half rising from the sofa. "What a curious
coincidence!"
"What! How? What do you mean?" she asked, looking at me in surprise.
"Never mind just now. When I come to tell you _my_ story you will
understand. There is a robbery of a young girl in it too.--Go on.--"
"Well, then, as I said, I was robbed by a man and a boy. I had dear
little Pompey with me at the time, and that is the way I came to lose
him. But the terrible thing was that an accident befell me just after I
was robbed, and I never saw my darling grandmother again--"
"Coincidence!" I exclaimed, starting up, as a sudden thought was forced
upon my mind, and my heart began to beat violently, "this is _more_ than
a coincidence; and yet--it cannot be--pooh! impossible! ridiculous! My
mind is wandering."
I sank back somewhat exhausted, for I had been considerably weakened by
my accident. Edith was greatly alarmed at my words and looks, and
blamed herself for having talked too much to me in my comparatively weak
condition.
"No, you have not talked too much to me. You cannot do that, dear
_Edie_," I said.
It was now her turn to look bewildered.
"_Edie_!" she echoed. "Why--why do you call me Edie?"