t. "Found a child! What child?" Such were
the thoughts which darted, like lightning, through his brain. Then he
smiled sadly to himself. Of course what he had imagined, for an instant,
could not be.

"Well" he said calmly, "who are they? Let me hear!"

For one moment only, Mr. Durnford hesitated to reply.

"You will, perhaps, be startled, Mr. Horn, but must not misunderstand me,
if I say that they are the excellent friends who have been as father and
mother to your secretary, Miss Owen."

"Cobbler" Horn was indeed startled. His thoughts had not turned in the
direction indicated by the minister's suggestion--that was all. But he was
not displeased.

"Ah!" he exclaimed. "Well, if they are anything like my little secretary,
they will do."

"Mr. and Mrs. Burton do not know that I have any thought of suggesting
them to you, Mr. Horn. Nor have I the least idea whether or not they would
accept the post. Mr. Burton holds a good position on the railway, in
Birmingham, which I know he has no present intention of relinquishing. But
there is not another couple of my acquaintance who would be likely to
meet your wishes as well as these good friends of mine. You know, of
course, that Miss Owen was found and rescued by them, when she was quite
a little thing?"

"Yes," was the thoughtful reply; "and you really think they are the kind
of persons I want?"

"I do, indeed."

"Well, well! But might I ask them, do you think?"

"Perhaps," said Mr. Durnford, "it would be as well to mention it to Miss
Owen first."

"Might I do that, think you?"

"By all means!"

"Then I will."

He spoke to his secretary that very day. Miss Owen was delighted with the
proposal, and approved of it with all her heart. She hoped Mr. and Mrs.
Burton would consent, and felt almost sure that they would. After that the
minister agreed to convey the request of "the Golden Shoemaker" to his
good friends. For this purpose, he made a journey to Birmingham, and, on
the evening of his return, called on "Cobbler" Horn.

"Well?" enquired the latter eagerly, almost before the minister had taken
his seat.

"Our friends are favourably disposed," replied Mr. Durnford; "but they
would like to have a personal interview first."

"By all means. When can they see me? And where?"

"Well, it would be a great convenience to Mr. Burton if you would go
there. He cannot very well get away. But he could arrange to meet you at
his own house."

Acting upon this sugges