t
play with her there. But, now," she went on, "I want you to tell me all
you can about yourselves. Do you remember your mother, Bob?"

"Yes'm," replied Bob; "she used to drink awful."

"Has she been dead long?"

"Yes; she died when Willie wor a kid. I know, 'cos 'e was jist a-tryin' to
walk by 'isself. 'E 'ad no one then to look arter 'im but me," he added.

"Well," replied Miss Elton, "you have looked after him very well.
I am sure Willie has been very happy when he has been with you.
He is a dear little fellow," drawing the child closer to her and gazing
into his face. Yes, he certainty was the image of Gladys; she could see it
plainly now. How strange that she had never noticed it before!

She sat talking to them some time longer, and then, slipping a shilling
into Bob's hand, she asked him to stay and play with Willie to-day.

Once outside the door she turned eagerly.

"Mrs. Blair," she said, to that lady's astonishment, "do you think Willie
is really Bob's brother?"

"Bless me, miss," was the answer, "I haven't never thought about it.
He always calls him his brother."

"They are not much alike," said Miss Elton.

"No," replied Mrs. Blair; "but I don't know that that shows anything?

"Have you ever seen Willie undressed?" went on her questioner.

"Lor' bless you, yes!" she replied. "Why, only yesterday I gave him a good
wash before he went to the tea-party." And she looked, at Miss Elton
wonderingly.

"Did you notice anything about him--any particular marks about his body,
I mean?"

"No," was the answer. "Stay, though, I think I did see a little red mark
on his shoulder. But it was nothing much."

"Oh, thank you," said Miss Elton joyously, though her eyes were brimming
over with tears. "No, I mustn't say anything yet; but, Mrs. Blair, will
you bring the children up to my house this afternoon? This is my address,"
handing her a card. "You can get an omnibus near here that will take you
all the way to West Kensington."

Having Mrs. Blair's promise that she would be there in good time,
Miss Elton hastened home. Her brother had not yet returned,
but she could settle to nothing till he came. She wandered about from the
library to the drawing-room, then up to the nursery, where she caught
Gladys up in her arms and danced with her about the room, while the little
one screamed with delight.

At last the door-bell rang, and she rushed down to meet her brother in the
hall.

"Well, dear,"