id
not know whether to feel pleasure or disappointment. He was glad to
have the mystery cleared up; glad, too, to find that Elsie had had so
sweet a mother, and was likely to have such kind and liberal friends.
Yet he could not but feel sorry for the collapse that was awaiting
Jim's castle in the air. It would be a bitter trial for him, and he
knew not how Jim would bear it. Mr. Smith was somewhat puzzled,
moreover, what to do himself. He had promised to write to the
expectant Jim; but now he could not bring himself to do so. His own
holiday would not expire for a fortnight, and he was naturally
reluctant to return home sooner than was necessary. While debating
what was best to be done, a telegram was put into his hand. It was
from the irrepressible and anxious Jim. "Please telegraph results
obtained immediately. Reply paid for." "The fool!" muttered Mr.
Smith; and, yielding to a sudden irritation, he filled up the reply for
which the boy was waiting:

"All clear enough, but quite unsatisfactory as far as you are
concerned."

It was a cruel blow, and no sooner was it dealt than he was sorry for
it. He resolved to write to the poor lad, and, finding an invitation
to dine at Burnham Park, which had first to be accepted, he sat down,
well pleased with himself and all the world. The letter to Jim was
kindly. The whole truth was not told, but it was announced that Jim
and Elsie were no connections of the Waterham family. All else was
reserved for verbal explanation.

The dinner at Burnham was pleasant enough. The earl was affable, and
after dinner had several reminiscences of that "clever dog Damer" to
tell, which did not raise his character in the clergyman's estimation.
When about to leave, Lady Eleanor handed him a note for Elsie, adding--

"I do wish so she would come over and see us! Of course I should
gladly pay all her expenses."

The Rev. Cooper Smith left Leeds next morning quite satisfied with
himself, and, having written a long letter to Hendrick, giving a
general idea of his discoveries, he went on his tour with a light heart.

CHAPTER X.

Poor Jim! his pride had indeed met with a fall. The rector's letter
was soothing enough, but the winged messenger which he himself had
demanded had arrived full twenty-four hours earlier. Full of the most
ridiculous dreams, that he would have been ashamed to put in words even
to himself, the young man tore open the brown cover. One glance at th