boy whose father and mother are dead. He is twelve
years old. There are reasons why I cannot tell you who they were,
but I can say that the boy's father was an English officer. He has
been brought up by natives, and speaks English in the way that
natives speak it. Those who have brought him up desire that he
should learn to talk English well, and learn to have good manners,
so that some day, when he goes to England, people should not say of
him:

"'"This is not an English gentleman, or he would not speak like
that."'

"I said that I had interested myself in the matter, and knew that
it was right, and had come to her to ask her if she would take him
into her house, which was very comfortable and well furnished, and
everything as it should be.

"She asked questions. I told her enough to interest her; and said
that, when the time came, it was hoped that he would be able to
obtain employment under the Government--perhaps in the army, as his
father had been. I said that those who brought him up were ready to
make great sacrifices for his sake, but that they could not pay for
him for more than two years; and that, as the boy knew so much
English, they hoped this would be enough. I asked how much, if she
agreed to take him, she would charge. She said that she would think
it over; and would call here, tomorrow, and tell me whether she
would take him.

"She will be here at three. I think you had better come at that
hour. I am sure that she would like to speak to you. I do not see
why you should not say that you had been his ayah, and had saved
his life, and brought him up. Many officers have been killed and,
indeed, I do not see why you should not tell her the whole story.
It will interest her more in the boy. But of course, before you
tell her, you must ask her to promise not to repeat it."

Soyera went on the following day. She found that Jeemajee was
already, with a lady, in his private room. She waited until the
door was opened, and the merchant beckoned her in.

"This is the woman who has brought the child up, Mrs. Sankey," he
said. "As I have told you, she was his ayah, and has behaved most
nobly."

Turning to Soyera, he said:

"Naturally Mrs. Sankey asked why you had not come forward before. I
told her your reasons, and she thinks that, perhaps, you have acted
for the best for him. At any rate, she has consented to take the
boy for two years; and I am to pay her, for you, the sum that you
have named."

In