een
and told Evan is right, you must be some relation to Captain Bayley."

"A cousin, fifty times removed, perhaps," Harry laughed, "but at any
rate, it is pleasant to be able to think that I come of a good family."

"You knew that before, Harry," Mrs. Holl said severely, "for I told you
over and over again that your mother was a lady, though she was in bad
circumstances, and I think, after charring in respectable houses for the
last twenty years, I ought to know a lady when I sees one. Well,
there's nothing as you think I could do about it?"

"I should think not," Harry laughed. "How the old gent would stare if
Evan was to walk up to him and say, 'Captain Bayley, I have got a
foster-brother at home who, I think, is a relation of yours.' That would
be a nice piece of cheek, wouldn't it?"

Evan laughed.

"However, mother, I votes as in future we calls Harry Harry Bayley
instead of Harry Holl."

"You won't do anything of the sort, Evan," the cripple lad answered
hotly. "Holl's my name, and you don't suppose I am going to drop the
name of the father and mother who brought me up, and have tended me all
these years, for Bayley or any other name; besides, even if it should
turn out that I am remotely connected with the family, there is no
reason why my name should be Bayley, for, of course, if my mother had
been a Bayley, she would have changed her name when she married."

Harry thought but little more of the matter, but Mrs. Holl turned it
over frequently in her mind, and discussed it with John. John said, "He
didn't think much would come of it; still, he didn't see as how there
could be any harm in asking, seeing that she had set her mind on it."

So Mrs. Holl resolved to move in the matter. Evan, on being appealed to,
said that he did not see how she was to get to speak with Captain
Bayley; the footman wouldn't be likely to show her in to his master
unless she stated her business. But after much pressing, and declaring
over and over again he wished he had never said a word about the hand
with three fingers, Evan consented, if he found an opportunity, to ask
Captain Bayley to see his mother. This opportunity, however, did not
arrive, Evan's duties never bringing him in contact with his employer.
At last Mrs. Holl became desperate, and one morning, after breakfast,
she went to Captain Bayley's house. The ring at the area-bell brought
out the cook.

"What is it?" she said sharply.

"I am the mother, ma'am, of Evan