’ Martha got up with a swish of her black habit. While the carpenter irresolutely quitted the room, with a strong presentiment of ill upon his mind, a light quick step was heard descending the stairs, and before he could call out to prevent it, a man was admitted into the passage. She smiled and started for the stairs without reply. ’ His face changed, all the humour and tenderness leaving it in an instant. My birth certificate was destroyed when the county building it was housed in burned down.