t stand
worrying about him, and wondering if he was well treated. And I didn't
like the way she wouldn't tell me where she lived. I had my savings,
too; so I gave up my place, and came to London to look for her. I knew
she lived in South London from something she let drop; and I took a
room in Lambeth and looked for her in neighbourhoods which would be
likely for her to live in. But it's a large place, sir, and I was
months and months doing it, moving from neighbourhood to neighbourhood.
I used to trapse and trapse about all day, and at night I used to go
into Publics, the saloon bars as well as the common bars, for I didn't
know which class she really belonged to. I went into hundreds of
Publics, but I never set eyes on her. Then, last October, when I'd
nearly come to the end of my savings, I saw her going into a Public at
New Cross. I couldn't believe it; it seemed too good to be true. I
thought I must have made a mistake; I daren't go in, for fear she
should know me; and I thought she never would come out. When she did
come out, and I saw it was really 'er, I nearly fainted right away; but
I follered 'er, and she went from Public to Public with two shops in
between, and it was nearly ten o'clock when she took the tram, and past
eleven when she got to her cottage at Catford, for she stopped at two
more Publics. But I walked about all night, for I wasn't going to take
no chances; and next morning I found, sure enough, that the child was
there. But he was that changed, and he didn't know me." Her harsh
voice sank to the mournfullest tone; and she paused.

Sir Tancred said nothing, he could say nothing; he was amazed and
profoundly touched by the persistence of this passionate, single-eyed
devotion in this hard-featured, harsh-voiced, rugged creature.

"Well, sir," Selina went on, "I moved to Eltham, and took a room. I
soon found out what sort the Bostocks were. Every Saturday they drew
two pounds for the keep of the child; and they were hardly ever sober
till Thursday. And they starved the child, sir; and sometimes they
beat him. Now and then, when they were drunk, I've got food, good food
to him. But not often, for he was their livelihood, and however drunk
they was, they kept an eye on him; mostly he's locked up in a bedroom.
I wrote to you, sir, three times, and waited and waited for answers
till I was sick at heart; and things was getting worse and worse. I
couldn't have stood it any longer; I was