he face of
the little boy who now came running in. So inexorable to a remorseful
and suffering woman, and so full of consideration for a stranger's
child!

"Almost well," pronounced the doctor, and lifted him on his knee. "Do
you know this child's parentage and condition?" he sharply inquired,
with a quick look toward me.

I saw no reason for not telling the truth.

"He is an orphan, and was destined for an institution."

"You know this?"

"Positively."

"Then I shall keep the child. Harry, will you stay with me?"

To my amazement the little arms crept round his neck. A smile grim
enough, in my estimation, but not at all frightful to the child,
responded to this appeal.

"I did not like the old man and woman," he said.

Doctor Pool's whole manner showed triumph. "I shall treat him better
than I did you," he remarked. "I am a regenerate man now."

I bowed; I was very uneasy; there was a question I wanted to ask and
could not in the presence of this child.

"He is hardly of an age to take my place," I observed, still under the
spell of my surprise, for the child was handling the old man's long
beard, and seeming almost as happy as Gwendolen did in Mrs. Carew's
arms.

"He will have one of his own," was the doctor's unexpected reply.

I rose. I saw that he did not intend to dismiss the child.

"I should like your word, in return for the relief I have undoubtedly
brought you, that you will not molest certain parties till the three
days are up which I have mentioned as the limit of my own silence."

"Shall I give him my word, Harry?"

The child, startled by the abrupt address, drew his fingers from the
long beard he was playfully stroking and, eyeing me with elfish gravity,
seemed to ponder the question as if some comprehension of its importance
had found entrance into his small brain. Annoyed at the doctor's whim,
yet trusting to the child's intuition, I waited with inner anxiety for
what those small lips would say, and felt an infinite relief, even if I
did not show it, when he finally uttered a faint "Yes," and hid his face
again on the doctor's breast.

My last remembrance of them both was the picture they made as the doctor
closed the door upon me, with the sweet, confiding child still clasped
in his arms.

XXV

THE WORK OF AN INSTANT

I did not take the car at the corner. I was sure that Jupp was somewhere
around, and I had a new mission for him of more importance than any he
could fi