I had got into the train at the main station. I
saw him put into the train at the North one, and taken out at Waterloo.'

'And why--why, may I ask, have we been left--have we never heard this
before?'

His voice shook, as he thought of all the misery to himself and his wife
that might have been spared, as well as the danger of the child. Rose
hesitated, doubting how much she ought to say, and Mr. Deyncourt came
out.

'May I introduce myself?' said Frank, hoping for an auxiliary,--'Lord
Northmoor. I have just heard that Miss Rollstone thinks she saw my
little boy in the London train the day he disappeared; and I am trying to
understand whether there is really any hope that she is right, and that
we can recover him.'

Mr. Deyncourt was infinitely surprised, and spoke a few words of wonder
that this had not been made known. Rose found it easier to speak to him.

'I saw Louisa Hall with him; I did not know she was not still his maid.
I thought she had been sent to take him somewhere. And when I heard from
home that he--he was--drowned, I only thought the likeness had deceived
me. It was not till Mr. Morton came home, and we talked it over, that I
understood that Louisa Hall was dismissed long ago, and was eloping to
Canada.

'And then,' for she had spoken falteringly, and with an effort, as their
sounds of inquiry elicited each sentence--'and then, Mr. Morton said he
would follow her to Canada. He did not want Lady Northmoor to be
tortured with uncertainty.'

'Very strange,' said the gentlemen one to the other, Lord Northmoor
adding--

'Thank you, Miss Rollstone; I will not detain you, unless you can tell me
more.'

Rose was glad to be released, though pained and vexed not to dare to
express her reasons for full certainty.

'Is this only a girl's fancy?' sighed the father.

'I think she is a sensible girl.'

'And my nephew Herbert is a hard-headed fellow, not likely to fly off on
a vague notion. Is this Hall girl's mother still living here?'

'Certainly. It has been a bad business, her going off with that Jones;
but I ascertained that she was married to him.'

'Jones--Sam Jones, or Rattler?'

'Even so.'

'Ah! She was dismissed on his account. And I detected him in imposing
on Miss Morton. Yet--where does this Mrs. Hall live?'

'Along this alley. Shall I come with you?'

'Thank you.'

'It may induce her to speak out, if there is anything to hear. I dare
not hope! It is too incredible