she cried, "what news?"

"My dear Winnie," replied her brother, "you are a perfect tornado.
Let me get inside;"

"Be quick, then," was the answer, and she pulled him into the drawing-room.

Seating himself in a chair, he proceeded to give her an account of his
morning's work. When he arrived at Primrose Place he could not find any
trace of the man Brown. An old woman who lived in the same house said that
he had left the place soon after the boys went away. She said she
remembered the children quite well, but she did not think they were
brothers, because she knew a young woman came there about five years ago,
bringing a baby with her, which she left. Mrs. Brown always gave out that
it was her own, but she didn't ever remember her having a baby, and she
didn't think it was her own. Brown himself was doing two years in gaol at
the time Mrs. Brown died soon after he came out. She said that the
children led a dreadful life with the man, and she was glad when they went
away. "So you see, Winnie," he concluded, "that is all I could find out,
and it is not enough to go upon."

"Ah, well," she replied, shaking her head, "Willie is coming here this
afternoon, and then you will see. I am certain 'we have found Bertram."

And so sure was she, that her next business was to order the carriage and
set off to the shop to buy a suit for Willie. Everything that the boy
could possibly, want in the shape of underclothes was bought, and then the
little velvet suit that Nora Graham had suggested, with the lace collar,
was added.

Precisely at three o'clock Mrs. Blair appeared with the children.
Little Gladys was delighted to see Willie, and would sit next to him at the
table while they had some tea. Mr. Elton came in and looked at them,
and he, too, was struck with the likeness between the children.

After tea Miss Elton took Willie to the nursery saying she had some clothes
for him and she wanted to see them on.

"Here, nurse," she said to the servant who was waiting; "this is the little
boy I told you about."

"Bless his dear heart!" said the woman, catching him in her arms.
"I should have known Master Bertie anywhere."

Miss Elton was very glad now that Bertram's old nurse had stayed on to look
after Gladys, for now that _she_ recognized the child she felt all her
doubts laid to rest for ever, and she stood looking on while nurse took off
the ragged clothes exposed to view the tiny mark on the little bare
shoulder.