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Gertrude made Lucy often visit her in her private parlour, and

conversed much with her, finding a charm in the ingenuousness and

sweetness of the poor girl, and delighted with listening to

expressions of gratitude from her mouth. She changed insensibly

the suspicions of Lucy with regard to her into a sentiment of the

deepest compassion, by relating to her, in confidence, a part of

her history, that part of it which she dared avow. Lucy found in

the relation reasons more than sufficient to explain what had

appeared strange in the manners of her benefactress. She was very

careful, however, not to return the confidence Gertrude placed in

her, by speaking of her new fears and misfortunes, lest she

should thereby extend the knowledge of Renzo's supposed crime and

disgrace.