ark is never so fashionably frequented as its
southern regions, and Rainham, whose want of purpose had led him
past gay carpet-beds and under branching trees nearly to the Marble
Arch, was hardly surprised to recognise among the heterogeneous
array of promenaders, tramps, and nursemaids, whom the heat of the
slanting sun had prompted to occupy the benches dotted at intervals
along the Row, a face whose weary pallor caused him a pang of
self-reproach--Kitty!

For the last few days, since his encounter with her portrait at
Lightmark's studio, he had scarcely given her troubles a thought.
When the girl saw him, after a startled look and movement, she
seemed to shrink still further into the folds of her rusty black
cloak, and, to avoid meeting Rainham's eyes, bent her head over the
child who was seated at her side. He found something irresistibly
charming and pathetically generous in the girl's spontaneous denial
of any claim to his notice, although, except that he had promised to
let her know anything he might learn of the whereabouts of the
father of her child, he would have found it hard to establish in the
mind of an outside critic that any such claim in fact existed.

"Well, my poor child," he said softly, as he dropped into one of the
vacant seats on the same bench, "how goes it with you and the little
one?"

"Oh, sir, you shouldn't speak to me--not here. Anyone might see you.
Pray go. I know I shall get you into trouble, and you so kind!"

These words were spoken in a rapid, frightened whisper, and with an
apprehensive glance at the intermittent stream of carriages passing
within a few yards of them. Rainham shrugged his shoulders
pitifully, but found it rather difficult to say anything. Certainly,
his reputation was running a risk, and he felt that his indifference
was somewhat exceptional.

"I'm sorry to say I've got no news for you," he said presently,
after a silent pause, during which he had observed that the
wide-eyed child was really far prettier than many who (as he had
been assured by the complacent matrons who exhibited them) were
"little cherubs," and that it was as scrupulously cared for as the
little cherubs, even in their exhibition array. "I haven't been able
to discover anything; but you mustn't despair, we shall find him
sooner or later."

The girl glanced at him irresolutely, and then dropped her eyes
again, leaning over the child.

"It's no good, sir," she said. "I'm only sorry to have gi