lawyers,
yet it excited him wildly to think that some one besides himself was in
search of the lad whose memory had haunted him for so many months, and
whom, even in his most despairing moments, he had never quite given up
for lost.

True, he had long since ceased to believe that he was really to be found
by searching. Everything combined to baffle search, almost to forbid
it, and yet he had constantly lived in a vague expectation of finding or
hearing of him some day accidentally and unawares. But this
advertisement filled him with self-reproach. What right had he to do
anything, to rest a day, till he had found this lost boy--lost by his
fault, by his sin? No wonder he had not prospered. No wonder the bad
name had haunted him and dragged him down! One thing was certain--
whether what he knew was known to others or not, it was his duty to aid
now in this new search. So he wrote as follows to Messrs. Wilkins &
Wilkins:--

"_Private and Confidential_.

"The writer of this knew Gerard Forrester at Bolsover School two years
ago, and was responsible almost wholly for the accident referred to.
The writer left Bolsover in consequence, and has not seen Forrester
since. In May of the following year he made inquiries at Grangerham,
Forrester's native place, where he ascertained that the boy had been
removed there from Bolsover and had remained for some time with his
grandmother, Mrs Wilcox. Mrs Wilcox, however, was ordered to the
South for her health, and died at Torquay. Forrester, who appears to
have been a cripple, and unable to help himself, was then left in charge
of his old nurse, who left Grangerham shortly afterwards, it is said, in
order to take the boy to a hospital--where, no one could say. That is
the last the writer heard. Messrs. W. & W. might do well to apply to
the clergyman and Wesleyan minister at Grangerham, who may have some
later news. The writer would be thankful to be of any service in
helping to find one whom he has so terribly wronged; and any letter
addressed `J., at Jones's Coffee-House, Drury Lane,' will find him.

"It should be said that when Forrester was last seen, only faint hopes
were held out as to his recovery, even as a cripple."

An anxious time followed. It was hard to work as usual--harder still to
wait. The idea of Forrester being after all found took strange
possession of his mind, to the exclusion of all else. The prospect
which had seemed to open before him appear