band, she said, had stepped out a short
time since, though, already, gone longer than she expected, and would
certainly be back in a few moments. Her prophecy was correct, for,
sure enough, they were hardly seated before he made his appearance.

He appeared to be an intelligent person, and answered without
suspicion or hesitation to the best of his ability, all the questions
addressed to him, so soon as he understood their object. But his
information was exceedingly limited. He knew nothing at all about a
person who had occupied the house more than twenty years before--nor
was it, indeed, reasonable to suppose he should. In all probability
the number of tenants was almost as great as of the years that had
since elapsed: the name mentioned to him was a very common one: many
such were to be found in the Directory, and the chances were that
the house itself had repeatedly changed owners in a community so
changeable and speculating. If the gentlemen would allow him to
suggest, the best course would be to examine the records in the
Register's office, and trace the title down to the time desired.
In this way the name of the owner could, without difficulty, be
discovered, and if he were alive he might, perhaps, be able to inform
them what had become of the person who was his tenant at the time,
although that was hardly probable.

The suggestion was plainly sensible, and had, indeed, occurred to
Pownal from the beginning, and he had accompanied Holden that morning
more for the purpose of determining whether the house described by
Esther, still existed, than with the expectation of making any further
discovery. His anticipations had been more than realized; a favorable
beginning had been made; there was every inducement to prosecute
the search. When, therefore, Holden and Pownal thanked the obliging
shopkeeper for his politeness, and took their leave, both felt that
their morning had not been thrown away, though the condition of their
minds was somewhat different, the former being confident of success,
the latter hoping for it.

"I will call at the Register's office," said the young man, "and
direct an examination to be made of the records. We shall be able to
obtain the result to-morrow, and until then you must endeavor to amuse
yourself, my dear friend, as well as possible. You know I sympathize
with your impatience, and shall expedite our search with all
diligence, and heaven grant it a happy termination."

Pownal saw th