e as if I were a younger brother of Rupert's.
But I could not bear it, father. I could not accept anything from you,
for I should feel that it was the result of this wicked fraud, that it
was what this woman, I cannot call her mother, had schemed for me to
get. Some day when I have made my way, and when all this may not hurt me
so horribly as it seems to do now, I will come and see you all if you
will let me, to thank you all for the love and kindness that should
never have been mine. But that will not be till I am in a position when
I can want nothing, for I feel now that were I dying of hunger I could
not accept a crust from your hands, for if I did so I should feel I was
a party to this abominable fraud. God bless you, dearest father and
mother and Rupert and Madge!--Your unhappy Edgar."

CHAPTER IV.

BACK AT SCHOOL.

It was a long time after they had, with many breaks, read Edgar's letter
to the end before Rupert and Madge could compose themselves sufficiently
to accompany their father into the drawing-room. They again broke down
when they met their mother; and it was not until Captain Clinton said,
"Come, we must all pull ourselves together and see what is to be done,
and talk the whole matter over calmly," that by a great effort they
recovered their composure. "Now, in the first place, we must try to find
Edgar. He has got twenty-four hours' start of us, but that is not very
much. I suppose you think, Rupert, that there is no doubt that he went
up to town by the night train."

"I have no doubt that he got away in time to do so, father; but of
course he might have gone by the down train, which passes through
Gloucester somewhere about the same time."

"I do not think it likely that he did that, Rupert. I should say he was
sure to go to London; that is almost always the goal people make for,
unless it is in the case of boys who want to go to sea, when they would
make for Liverpool or some other port. But I don't think Edgar was
likely to do that. I don't think he had any special fancy for the sea;
so we may assume that he has gone to London. What money had he?"

"He had that five-pound note you sent three days ago, father, to clear
off any ticks we had, and to pay our journey home. That is what he meant
when he said, 'I have taken the note, but I know you won't grudge it
me.' I think he had about a pound left--that is about what I had--and I
know when the note came he said that the money he had was eno