don't be bitter with him, or show there's another side of your feelings
about it. Keep that for me, if you must. My shoulders are broad enough
to bear it. He is brimming with acid as it is. Sweeten his mind if it is
in your power. That's the only way of salvation, and the only chance of
bringing him and me together."

She promised to attempt it.

"And if I'm bitter still," she said, "it is largely unconscious, as you
say. You can't get the taste of trouble out of your mouth very easily
after you've been deluged with it and nigh drowned in it, as I have.
It's only an echo and won't reach his ear, though it may reach yours."

"Thank you, Sabina. Do what you can," he said, and left her, glad to get
away from the subject and back to his own greater interests.

He heard nothing more for a few days, then came the news that Abel had
disappeared. By night he had vanished and search failed to find him.

Sabina could only state what had gone before his departure. She had
spoken with him on Raymond's behalf and urged him to reconsider his
attitude and behave sensibly and worthily. And he, answering nothing,
had gone to bed as usual; but when she called him next morning, no reply
came and she found that he had ridden away on his bicycle in the night.
The country was hunted, but without result, and not for three days did
his mother learn what had become of Abel. Then, in reply to police
notices of his disappearance, there came a letter from a Devonshire
dairy farm, twenty miles to the west of Bridport. The boy had appeared
there early in the morning and begged for some breakfast. Then he asked
for something to do. He was now working on trial for a week, but whether
giving satisfaction or no they did not learn.

His mother went to see him and found him well pleased with himself and
proud of what he had accomplished. He explained to her that he had now
taken his life into his own hands and was not going to look to anybody
in future but himself.

The farmer reported him civil spoken, willing to learn, and quick to
please. Indeed, Abel had never before won such a good character.

She left him there happy and content, and took no immediate steps to
bring the boy home.

It was decided that a conference should presently be held of those
interested in Abel.

"Since he is safe and cheerful and doing honest work, you need not be in
distress about him at present, Sabina," said Ernest Churchouse; "but
Raymond Ironsyde has no intent