fice herself for him, and would
scarcely say that she expected him to make her a handsome allowance when
he came into the property, but I have no doubt that was her motive.
Well, you see, she had already begun with Edgar. Suppose she said that
she had made a mistake, and Rupert was her son. Edgar would have gone in
and told him, and would probably have telegraphed to me, so that I could
get to Rupert before this woman saw him, and she would have known then
that her story would have been upset altogether. No court of law would
attach any weight to what she might say. She would have to stand
confessed as having been concerned in a gross fraud, and with having
lied at first; and unless she was in a position to produce corroborative
evidence to prove that her child had this mark, her word would go for
nothing.

"Now, I feel sure that she could produce no such evidence. The mark was
almost an invisible one, for it was never afterwards noticed. Had she
shown it to any of the women of her acquaintance, they would have come
forward when the change of children took place, and have pointed out
that the children could be easily distinguished, inasmuch as my child
had a peculiar mark. I feel sure that even her husband knew nothing
about this mark, for I don't believe he was a party to the fraud. He was
terribly upset by the whole business, and took to drink afterwards.
There were continual quarrels between his wife and himself, and she left
him and went to England. I believe if he could have pointed out which
was my child and which was his own, he would have done so.

"Certainly, I myself should have attached little or no weight to this
woman's story if she had come here with it. I should have turned her out
of the house, and have told her to go to a court if she dare and claim
the custody of her son. She must have known the weakness of her own
position, and as I say, having once opened the matter to Edgar, she
determined to stick to it, knowing that a boy taken thus on a sudden
would be likely to believe her, whereas if she said that you were her
son she would find you already prepared and probably have to confront me
too. So you see, Rupert, I can truthfully advertise--'Woman's story not
believed; we are in as much doubt as before; both are regarded by us as
our sons.'"

"I am glad, father!" Rupert exclaimed excitedly. "Oh! if Edgar had but
written to you first, instead of going straight away."

"It would have been better," C