r great desire was that
her young master should be properly dressed.

At length, however, the creditors put in their claims; the furniture and
all the property of the late vicar had to be sold, but it was
insufficient to meet their demands. Farmer Howe, knowing he matters
were likely to turn out, took Owen to his house.

The farmer had a large farm of his own, but there had been a bad
harvest, and at no time had Fenside Farm been a very profitable one; he
therefore could not do as much for the poor lad as his kind heart
dictated. His second son David, the scholar of the family, as he called
him, who was articled to an attorney in a neighbouring town, happened at
the time to be at home.

"David," said Farmer Howe, "surely the vicar and his wife must have had
some kith and kin, and we must find out who they are; they may be
inclined to do something for the boy, or, if not, they ought to do so."

"The first thing I would suggest, father, is to question Owen, and hear
what he knows about the matter," answered David; "we may then see what
letters the poor lady or the vicar have left; they may throw some light
on the subject."

Owen was forthwith called in. He had seldom heard his parents allude to
their relatives, but he held an opinion that his father had several, and
from the way in which he had heard them spoken of he fancied that they
were some great people, but who they were he could not tell. They
certainly, however, had never shown any regard for Mr Hartley, or paid
him the slightest attention. Owen knew that his mother had relations,
and that her father had been in some public office, but had died without
leaving her any fortune; his grandmother had also died a year or two
after her marriage. This much Owen knew, but that was very little. "Oh
yes," he said, "I remember that her name was Walford."

"Well, that must have been your grandfather's name too. Do you know
what your mother's maiden name was?" asked David.

Owen could not tell.

"Perhaps it will be in some of her books," suggested David. "They
sometimes help one in such cases as this."

"The books, I am afraid, were sold with the other property," said the
farmer.

"Then we must find out who bought them," remarked David; "perhaps Dobbs
of our town did. I saw him at the sale. He is not likely to have
disposed of them yet; I will get him to let me look over them."

David fulfilled his promise. Mr Dobbs allowed him to look over the
librar