rning, Uncle Edward. I know there's a letter from Jack for me,
isn't there? I've been waiting for it every day."

"I think there may be, judging from the writing on the envelope. Come
here and open it."

Milly took the letter, and her little fingers fairly trembled with
excitement as she opened it, saying softly to herself as she did so,--

"I knew he would keep his promise. I knew he wasn't a thief."

A money order dropped out.

"Well," said Sir Edward, "you were right, little woman, and we were
wrong. Would you like me to read it for you?"

"Yes, please, uncle."

The letter read as follows:--

"I am as good as my word, little Miss, in sending
you back what you lent me with many grateful
thanks for the loan, as I reached London safe and
have never touched a drop of drink since I seen
you, and am in work at my uncle's, which is good
of him to take me, and am getting good wages and
goes to church again. And my uncle has a chum
which is a street preacher, and comes along of
plenty of fellows like I was, and I told him of your
young fellow, Tommy Maxwell, and he will keep a
look-out for him. Tell the woman that fetched
you sharp away that I'll hold up my head with her
yet, and every night I asks God to bless you, for I
hopes I am getting on the right track again, and
thank you kindly for your talk, which is sticking to
me.

"Yours obediently,

"JACK GRAY."

Sir Edward laid the letter down in silence when he had finished reading
it. Milly's face was radiant.

"I've never had a letter in my life before, uncle, but I don't quite
understand all of it. Will you explain it to me?"

And this her uncle did, sending her upstairs at length to show it to
nurse, but sitting wrapped in thought himself and leaving both his
letters and breakfast untouched for some considerable time.

That same day he went out driving in the afternoon with a young horse,
and returning home met a traction engine, at which the horse instantly
took fright and bolted.

For some time Sir Edward kept steadily to his seat, and though powerless
to check the animal's course was able to guide it; but in spite of all
his efforts the trap was at last upset, and he was thrown violently to
the ground. He had no groom with him, and the accident took place on a
lonely road, so that it was not till an hour later that help came, in
the shape of a