fond of having little singsongs at his rooms. I asked one or
two questions, found out that it must be your brother, and told Jim I
would warn you that he was not a fit companion for a lad. Oh, I was
only in fun; there's no real harm in Jim, but he is in rather a fast,
betting set, and I have a young brother of my own. I know how I should
feel about it I determined to give you a hint next time we met, and I
_did_ remember, didn't I? I am so glad I didn't forget!"

The look of elation which accompanied the last words brought a smile to
Hope's face. She had reason to know Miss Caldecott's powers of
forgetting, and it argued a wonderful amount of interest that she should
have, remembered Barney in the midst of the exciting preparations for
her benefit concert. She slipped her hand through the plump arm and
pressed it gently, while Philippa asked half-a-dozen breathless
questions.

"How long ago was that? Have you heard nothing since? Where had he met
Barney? Is he in an insurance office?"

"Insurance? No, that is not it. He has quite a good berth somewhere--
shipping office, I think. Their ships go out to the Cape."

She drew her breath sharply as she finished her sentence, and, to judge
by the startled look which went round, the same thought had flashed
through every mind. Shipping! Ships that went out to the Cape! What
better means by which to frustrate the most diligent search? Barney had
always had a craving for the sea, and if this unknown "Jim" had
influence in his office, and felt himself even indirectly responsible
for the trouble in which the boy found himself, what more likely than
that he would help him to a fresh start?

"I shouldn't wonder one bit if that is the explanation," cried Minnie
triumphantly. "Two to one he has gone off in one of their boats; and a
very good thing if he has. Nothing knocks the nonsense out of a boy
like a good long voyage. He'll be so thankful to get back that he will
settle down to anything you like to mention. Got into trouble, I
suppose, before he went? Nothing serious, I hope."

She had shown herself so kind and sympathetic that Philippa could not
refuse to reply, and Minnie listened to the story of Barney's debts with
indulgent sympathy.

"And so he ran away from them. Just what I have longed to do myself a
dozen times over. Now, you will want to see Jim, and hear what he has
to say. I shall be passing near his lodgings on my way home, and if
Mr--