e doctor came to him.

The doctor smiled as he saw Forrester's burdens, and the kindly
neighbour came forward with little murmurs of sympathy, and carried the
twins away one at a time, still sleeping, to bed.

The Beggar Man stood up and stretched his arms.

"Well! This is a bad business," he said despondently.

"Yes." The doctor was looking at him with puzzled eyes. "You must
forgive me," he said at last, "but I have known Mrs. Ledley and her
family for several years now, and I had no idea that the child in the
next room was married!"

Forrester coloured a little.

"We were married three weeks ago," he explained grudgingly. "And I had
to leave her at once, on business, for America! I only got back last
night and came here to find--this!" He looked round the room helplessly.
"Of course everything will be all right," he added hurriedly. "I shall
look after the children. There are only the two, aren't there?" he asked
with a shade of anxiety.

The doctor smiled. "Yes, only the twins."

"And my wife? How is she?" the Beggar Man asked.

"She is suffering from shock, severe shock, of course, and must be kept
perfectly quiet. I asked her if she wished to see you, and--I am
sorry--but she said No! You must humour her, and not take it seriously,"
he explained kindly. "I asked if there was anyone she would like to see,
and she said, 'Yes, Peg.' Do you know who Peg is?"

The Beggar Man frowned.

"Yes--a friend of hers."

The doctor turned away to the door. He was a kind man, but overworked
and underpaid, and could not afford to waste a moment more than he was
obliged.

"Well, I should send for her," he said briskly. "The woman here tells me
she cannot stay all night. She has her own home and children to attend
to. If you know where this 'Peg' is--send for her."

Forrester saw the doctor out, and went in search of the kindly neighbour
who had tucked the twins up in bed, and was tidying the house.

He had no more idea than the dead how he was going to find Peg, but he
asked the neighbour hopefully for information.

"Yes, I know her," she said. "I know her well--she lives about ten
minutes away from here. Yes, I can give you her address."

Forrester wrote it down on his shirt cuff, promised to be back quickly,
and went out.

The door of the room where Faith lay was open as he passed it, but some
queer impulse prevented him from entering. She had said that she did not
want him--well, he could wait.

But his h