" and the clergyman handed her the slip of
paper.

"Please take care of Rodney. I will come for him some day. The Lord
will reward you even if I can't.

"HIS MOTHER."

As Mrs. Royal read this brief note, a peculiar expression overspread
her face. She uttered no word, but her head drooped lower over the
baby and she remained very still. Her husband at once realising how
she felt, laid his hand upon hers.

"There, there, dear," he soothed. "I didn't mean to make you feel
badly. It was only a little mistake after all, and I am really glad it
is a boy, for if will make us think that we have Alec with us again."

Mrs. Royal looked up and brushed away a tear. At that instant the baby
gave a vigorous kick, accompanied by a peculiar gurgle of delight, at
which the two attendants laughed heartily.

"That's right, little man," and the parson nodded his head approvingly.
"You're pleased, too, are you, to know that we've found out that you
are a boy? You didn't want to be called Deborah, Debbie, or Deb, did
you? Rodney suits you better, eh? How do you like the name, Martha?"

"Very well, indeed," and Mrs. Royal gave a sigh of relief. "It removes
quite a load from my mind. But, there," she added, "I must put him to
bed. It isn't good for a baby to be up so late. Come, Rodney," and
she lifted the little one in her arms, "kiss your----"

"Grandad," the parson assisted as his wife paused. "We shall teach him
to call me that, eh? It will be better than 'daddy.'"

"You look after him, Daniel, while I make his bed ready. Don't let him
fall. There, that's good," and Mrs. Royal stepped back to view the
baby lying in her husband's arms.

Lighting a candle which was standing on tin mantel over the fire-place,
she went upstairs and stopped before a door on the left of the hall-way
This she opened and softly entered. The room was small, but neat and
cosy. Every piece of furniture was in its proper place, and the bed
looked as if it had been recently made. The walls were adorned with
various articles, from a number of shelves, filled with books for boys,
to snow-shoes, fishing-rods, a rifle, and college colours. It had been
several years since any one had slept in that room, but not a day had
passed during that period that Mrs. Royal had not entered and sat for a
while in the big easy chair by the side of the bed. Everything was
there just as Alec had left it, though a few things had been added
since.

On