"You are very pretty，Eliza；and I'm sure you are as good as you're pretty，"announced Louise."So you must tell me about yourself，and whether you are happy here or not.From this time on I'm going to be your friend，you know，and keep all your secrets；and I'll help you all I can."This rambling speech seemed to impress Eliza favorably.She relaxed somewhat from the tense alertness that was habitual with her，and looked at the other girl with a softened expression.
"I'm afraid you won't be much interested in me，"shereplied，"but I need a friend—indeed I need a friend，Miss Louise！""I'm sure you do.""At first I thought I could do without one.I felt I must stand alone，and let no one suspect.But—I'm getting puzzled and bewildered，and I don't know what to do next.""Of course not.Tell me about it，dear.""I can't；for I don't know，myself."She leaned forward in her chair and added，in a whisper："I don't even know who I am！But that man，"with a shudder，"tried to trap me.He said he knew Eliza Parsons，and there is no Eliza Parsons.It's a name I—I invented.""I think I understand，"said Louise，with a little nod."You had to have a name，so you took that one.""Yes.I don't know why I am telling you this.I've triedto hide it all so carefully.And perhaps I'm wrong in letting this thing worry me.In the main，I've been very happy and content，lately；and—I have a feeling I was not happy before—before—""Before what，dear？"The girl looked at her steadily and her face grew red."Before I lost my memory."For a few moments they sat silently regarding one another，the expressive features of Louise showing a silent sympathy.
"Have you really lost your memory？"she asked.
"Absolutely.Think of it！I wakened one morning lying by the roadside，and shivering with cold.I had on a simple gray dress，with no hat.The sun was just rising，and no one was near.I examined myself with wonder，for I had no idea who I was，or how I came there.There was no money in my pocket，and I had no jewels.To keep warm I began walking along the road.The scenery was all new to me；so far as I knew I had never been in the place before.
"The birds were singing and the cows mooed in the meadow.I tried to sing，too，for my heart was light and gay and I was happy.By and bye I came to a town；but no one seemed to be awakened because it was yet so early.As I walked down the street I saw smoke coming from one of the chimneys，and it suddenly occurred to me that I was hungry.I entered the yard and went around to the back door.A womanwas working in the kitchen and I laughed joyfully and wished her a good morning.She was not very pleasant，but it did me good to talk with her；I liked to hear my own voice and it pleased me to be able to talk easily and well.She grudginglya gave me something to eat and then bade me begone，calling me by some strange name and saying I was a thief.It was then that I invented the name of Eliza Parsons.I don't know why，but it popped into my head and I claimed it for my name and have clung to it ever since.""Have you no idea what your real name is？"askedLouise，greatly interested in this terseb relation.
"I have no idea of anything that dates beyond that morning，"replied Eliza."The ？rst time I looked in the mirror I saw a strange face reflected there.I had to make my own acquaintance，"she added，with one of her bright laughs."I suppose I am between seventeen and twenty years of age，but what my life was during past years is to me a sealed book.I cannot remember a person I knew or associated with，yet things outside of my personal life seem to have clung to me.I remembered books I must have read；I can write，sing and sew—I sew remarkably well，and must have once been trained to it.I know all about my country's history，yet I cannot recollect where I lived，and this part of the country is unknown to me.When I came to Elmhurst I knew all about it and about Mr.Forbes，but could not connect them with myformer life.""How did you happen to come here？"asked Louise.
"I forgot to tell you that.While I was arguing with the woman，who was a Mrs.Hopkins，her husband heard us and came out into the kitchen.He began to question me about myself and I gave any answer that came into my head，for I could not tell him the truth.It pleased me to hear my voice，I seemed to have a keen sense of the humorous，and if I said anything at all clever，I laughed as heartily as anyone.My heart was light and free from all care.I had no worries or responsibilities at all.I was like the birds who see the sunshine and feel the breeze and are content to sing and be happy.