elt up in his bed, laid his hand on his Bible--his uncle's
gift--and solemnly swore it.

And Herbert was another youth from that hour.

When he had brought his ideas into some little order, the foremost was
that he must see Rose Rollstone, discover how much she knew or guessed,
and bind her to silence. 'No fear of her, jolly little thing!' said he
to himself; but, playfellows as they had been, private interviews were
not easy to secure under present circumstances.

However, the tinkling of the bell of the iron church suggested an idea.
'She is just the little saint of a thing to be always off to church at
unearthly hours. I'll catch her there--if only that black coat isn't
always after her!'

So Herbert hurried off to the iron building, satisfied himself with a
peep that Rose's sailor hat was there, and then--to make sure of
her--crept into a seat by the door, and found his plans none the worse
for praying for all needing help in mind, body, or estate. Rose came out
alone, and he was by her side at once. 'I say, Rose, you did not speak
about _that_ last night?'

'Oh no, indeed!'

'You're a brick! I got it all out of that sister of mine. I'm only
ashamed that she is my sister!'

'And where is the dear little boy?'

'That's the point,' and Herbert briefly explained his difficulties, and
Rose agreed that he must try to learn where the emigrants had gone, from
their relations. And when he expressed his full intention of following
them, even if he had to work his passage, before telling the parents, she
applauded the nobleness of the resolution, and all the romance in her
awoke at the notion of his bringing home the boy and setting him before
his parents. She was ready to promise secrecy for the sake of preventing
the prosecution that might, as Herbert saw, be a terrible thing for the
whole family; and besides, it must be confessed, the two young things did
rather enjoy the sharing of a secret. Herbert promised to meet her the
next morning, and report his discoveries and plans, as in fact she was
the only person with whom he could take counsel.

He did meet her accordingly, going first to the church. He had to tell
her that he had been able to make nothing of Mrs. Hall. He was not sure
whether she knew where her daughter had gone; at any rate, she would not
own to any knowledge, being probably afraid. Besides, when acting as
charwoman, Master Herbert had been such a torment to her that she was not
like