he should not defer it until the boys came of
age, and the one she chose could sign a legal document; but she was
anxious to leave England, and go right away to America or Australia.
Besides, if she had the promise she could enforce its fulfilment. Which
boy should she select? She changed her mind several times, and at last
determined that she would leave it to chance, and would choose the one
whom she next met.

It chanced that Edgar was the first she encountered after having taken
this resolution, and it happened that he was walking by himself, having
remained in the class-room a few minutes after the rest of the boys had
left, to speak to the master respecting a difficult passage in a lesson.
The woman placed herself in his way.

"Well, what is it?" he said. "You have been hanging about for the last
week. What is it you want?"

"I want to speak to you about something very important."

"Oh, nonsense!" he said. "There is nothing important you can have to
tell me."

"Yes, there is; something of the greatest importance. You do not suppose
that I should have been here for a week waiting to tell it to you, if it
was not."

"Well, I suppose you think it important," he said; "so fire away."

"I cannot tell you now," she said; "it is too long a story. Could you
spare me half an hour, young sir? You will not be sorry for it
afterwards, I promise you."

Edgar looked impatiently at his watch. He had nothing particular to do
at the moment, and his curiosity was excited. "I can spare it you now,"
he said.

"I am staying at this address," she said, handing him a piece of paper.
"It is not five minutes' walk from here. I will go on, if you will
follow me."

"All right," Edgar said, looking at the paper; "though I expect it is
some fooling or other." She walked away rapidly, and he sauntered after
her. She was standing with the door open when he arrived, and he
followed her into a small parlour. He threw himself down into a chair.

"Now, fire away," he said; "and be as quick as you can."

"Before I begin," she said quietly, "will you tell me if you know
anything relating to the circumstances of your birth?"

[Illustration: "THE WOMAN PLACED HERSELF IN HIS WAY."]

He looked at her in astonishment. "No," he said. "What in the world
should I know about the circumstances of my birth?"

"You know that you were born at Agra in India?"

"Of course I know that."

"And your father, Captain Clinton, has never spoken to yo