turning, fiercely ordered the servants from
the room.

"Who are you? What are you?" she faltered. "What tempted you to call me
by that name, and they standing by?"

"I am named Yates. Years ago you brought a child for me to care for."

"Oh, it is the child again! I tell you, on my honor, she has left my
house, I do not know where she has gone."

"Are you certain, madam?"

"Certain! Yes--yes. She left my house only this morning."

"Then I will go in search of her. Will this never end?" sighed Hannah
Yates.

"Stop! stop!" cried Olympia. "Promise to say nothing of that name.
Promise!"

"I am only wanting to find the young lady--not to harm any one."

"But it would harm me if you told that. Brown! Brown! Think of Brown for
a stage name! Can't you understand that it would be death to me? Half my
popularity lies in the fact that no one can tell who or what I am. Now,
do be silent, that is a good old soul, if it is only for _her_ sake; for
you know, in spite of the way she has served me, everything I have or
make will go to my child in the end. I am ready to make it worth your
while to be quiet."

Here Olympia took out a portemonnaie and unclasped it. The old woman put
the glittering thing aside with her hand.

"I do not take money," she said. "All I want is to find her. If she is
gone, I must search farther."

Then, with a meek bend of the head, Mrs. Yates left the room and the
house.

* * * * *

Lord Hilton went out of that house, relieved by the denial of Olympia
that Caroline was her daughter, but in other respects cruelly
disappointed. The greatest and most generous wish of his life was to
find the young girl, and atone for the cowardice which had made him
avoid her for a time. He had resolved that the fact that she was
Olympia's child should not prevent him acting this manly part; but when
that degradation was lifted from her by the woman's own words, his heart
was set free from an intolerable weight, and went back to its old love
with a happy rebound. He remained in London some days, spending the time
in vain efforts to learn something of the beautiful fugitive, and then
started back to the neighborhood of Houghton Castle, bitterly
disappointed.

For some distance, after he entered the railroad carriage, Lord Hilton
was alone; but at the junction, where he had formerly met Lady Clara and
her maid, a gentleman and lady entered the carriage, and sat down
opposite him. Th