Ann Eliza

　　Ann Eliza, having so far abdicated her independence, sank intosudden apathy. As far as she could remember, it was the first timein her life that she had been taken care of instead of taking care,and there was a momentary relief in the surrender. She swallowedthe tea like an obedient child, allowed a poultice to be applied toher aching chest and uttered no protest when a fire was kindled inthe rarely used grate; but as Mrs. Hawkins bent over to "settle"her pillows she raised herself on her elbow to whisper: "Oh, Mrs.
　　Hawkins, Mrs. Hochmuller warn't there." The tears rolled down hercheeks.
　　"She warn't there? Has she moved?""Over two months ago--and they don't know where she's gone.
　　Oh what'll I do, Mrs. Hawkins?""There, there, Miss Bunner. You lay still and don't fret.
　　I'll ask Mr. Hawkins soon as ever he comes home."Ann Eliza murmured her gratitude, and Mrs. Hawkins, bendingdown, kissed her on the forehead. "Don't you fret," she repeated,in the voice with which she soothed her children.
　　For over a week Ann Eliza lay in bed, faithfully nursed by hertwo neighbours, while the weak-eyed child, and the pale sewing girlwho had helped to finish Evelina's wedding dress, took turns inminding the shop. Every morning, when her friends appeared, AnnEliza lifted her head to ask: "Is there a letter?" and at theirgentle negative sank back in silence. Mrs. Hawkins, for severaldays, spoke no more of her promise to consult her husband as to thebest way of tracing Mrs. Hochmuller; and dread of freshdisappointment kept Ann Eliza from bringing up the subject.
　　But the following Sunday evening, as she sat for the firsttime bolstered up in her rocking-chair near the stove, while MissMellins studied the Police Gazette beneath the lamp, therecame a knock on the shop-door and Mr. Hawkins entered.
　　Ann Eliza's first glance at his plain friendly face showed herhe had news to give, but though she no longer attempted to hide heranxiety from Miss Mellins, her lips trembled too much to let herspeak.
　　"Good evening, Miss Bunner," said Mr. Hawkins in his draggingvoice. "I've been over to Hoboken all day looking round for Mrs.
　　Hochmuller.""Oh, Mr. Hawkins--you HAVE?""I made a thorough search, but I'm sorry to say it was no use.
　　She's left Hoboken--moved clear away, and nobody seems to knowwhere.""It was real good of you, Mr. Hawkins." Ann Eliza's voicestruggled up in a faint whisper through the submerging tide of herdisappointment.
　　Mr. Hawkins, in his embarrassed sense of being the bringer ofbad news, stood before her uncertainly; then he turned to go. "Notrouble at all," he paused to assure her from the doorway.
　　She wanted to speak again, to detain him, to ask himto advise her; but the words caught in her throat and she lay backsilent.
　　The next day she got up early, and dressed and bonnetedherself with twitching fingers. She waited till the weak-eyedchild appeared, and having laid on her minute instructions as tothe care of the shop, she slipped out into the street. It hadoccurred to her in one of the weary watches of the previous nightthat she might go to Tiffany's and make enquiries about Ramy'spast. Possibly in that way she might obtain some information thatwould suggest a new way of reaching Evelina. She was guiltilyaware that Mrs. Hawkins and Miss Mellins would be angry with herfor venturing out of doors, but she knew she should never feel anybetter till she had news of Evelina.