grey, delicate features, pale
complexion, brown eyes, and gentle manners, all of which are _facts_!"

"True, my dear sir, but they are facts applicable to many women,"
replied the solicitor. "Still, I confess I have some hope that we have
hit upon the right scent at last. If you could only have given us the
name of her husband, our difficulty would have been comparatively
slight. I suppose you have no means of hunting that up now. No distant
relative or--"

"No, none whatever. All my relations are dead. She lived with an old
aunt at the time, who died soon after the poor girl's foolish elopement,
leaving no reference to the matter behind her. It is now fifteen years
since then. I was away on a long voyage at the time. On my return, the
old lady, as I have said, was dead, and her neighbours knew nothing
except that my sister was reported to have run away with a seafaring
man. Some who had seen him about the place said he seemed to be beneath
her in station but none knew his name."

"Is it not strange," asked the solicitor, "that she has never in all
these years made inquiries about you at the mercantile house which
employed you?"

"Well, not so strange as it would seem, for my sister's memory for names
was a bad one. She used constantly to forget the name of the ship I
commanded, and, as far as I can remember, did not trouble herself about
the owners. I have no doubt she must have made many efforts to discover
me--unless she was ashamed of having made a low match. At all events,"
added the captain, with a weary sigh, "I have never ceased to make
inquiries about her, although I have not until now made the attempt
through a lawyer. But where is this person you have heard of to be
found?"

"On board of an emigrant ship," said the solicitor.

"Where bound for?" demanded the captain in peat surprise.

"For Australia, and she sails the day after to-morrow, I am told."

"Her name!" cried the captain, starting up.

"Calm yourself, my dear sir. I have made all needful arrangements for
your going off to-morrow. It is too late to-day. Sit down and let me
explain; and, above all, bear in mind that this may turn out to be a
wrong scent after all. Of course you may surmise that we lawyers obtain
our information from many and various sources. The source whence the
information concerning your matter has come is peculiar, namely, a
lay-missionary who is going to visit the ship to-morrow--having some
friends