or it?"

"Certainly; you had better lock up your room with your own things in
it, and take the key," said Francis.

"No, no; I am housekeeper enough to know that all rooms must have
occasional air and sunshine. I can trust either yourself or the
housemaid with the key, knowing well that everything will be kept safe."

"Where are you going to live?"

"With a very humble friend in ---- Street."

"That is very near where my earliest recollections of life in Edinburgh
found me situated."

"Do you remember your mother at all?"

"I am not quite sure; but I think I have some shadowy recollection of a
place before I came to Edinburgh, where I think I was with my mother."

"Do you think she is alive now?"

"Mr. MacFarlane says he believes she is. Do you think I should try to
discover her?"

"Alive all these years, and never taking any care or notice of you!
Very unmotherly on her part!" said Jane, thoughtfully.

"No one knows how she may be situated--her relations with my father
must have been very miserable. I cannot tell who was most to blame--but
if she were in distress, and I could help her, I am not forbidden to do
that, though Mr. MacFarlane strongly advises me to make no inquiry."

"I think, if she hears of your inheriting Cross Hall, she is likely to
come forward if she needs assistance, and you certainly should give it."

"I wish very much to look over Mr. Hogarth's private papers. Mr.
MacFarlane has given me the keys of all his repositories. I
particularly wish you to go over them all with me, as there may be many
that concern you far more than myself. Could you spare me a few hours
to-day for that purpose? I am in hopes that we may find some clue to
this marriage, and perhaps some hint that might guide me in my conduct
to my mother, supposing she is still alive. If I could find anything
that would upset or modify the will, I am sure your happiness in the
discovery would be less than mine."

The long and patient search which extended over the greater part of two
days discovered nothing whatever at all definite with regard to
Francis' birth. No scrap of writing could be found that could be
supposed to be from his mother. An old bundle of papers marked outside,
"Francis' school bills, &c." was all that rewarded their search, and
they gave no information except that his education had cost his father
a considerable sum of money.

A packet of letters in a female hand, with a French post-mark, was
eagerly