or three days, as his master's immediate
plans were unsettled. Horace, however, went to the nearest
telegraph-office and wired to Hindford--

"Let me off promise; urgent.--HORACE ERRINGTON."

Then, having done all he could, he went back to Park Lane. He found his
mother in a curiously restless state, and directly he came in she began
to talk about the beggar.

"I must and will find that man," she said.

"Mater, why?"

"Because I shall never be well till I do," she said. "I don't know what
it is, but I cannot be still by day, and I cannot rest by night, for
thinking of him. Why did I not let you give him something?"

"Mater, I wish to God you had!" the boy said solemnly.

Mrs. Errington did not seem to notice his unusual manner. She was
self-engrossed.

"However, we shall see him again, no doubt," she went on. "And then I
shall give him something handsome. I know he needs it."

Horace went hastily out of the room. He longed for a wire from Captain
Hindford. Next day he "shammed ill," as he called it to himself, so as
to get out of going into the Park. So Mrs. Errington went off by herself
in a condition of almost feverish anticipation.

"I know I shall see him to-day," she said, as she left Horace.

She returned at lunch-time, and came up at once to his room.

"I have seen him," she said.

Horace sat up, staring at her in blank amazement.

"What, Mater? What d'you say?"

"I have seen him."

"No?"

"Yes. I went to the place where he asked you for money, and walked up
and down for ages. But he wasn't there. At last I gave it up and crossed
the bridge. I took it into my head to come home on the other side of the
water. Well, when I was half-way along it, I looked across, and there I
saw him."

"Rot, Mater!"

"He was standing alone by the water, staring straight across at me, just
as if he saw me and was trying to attract my attention."

"No, no!"

"Horace, don't be silly! Why do you contradict me? He looked just the
same as when we saw him first, only he had no coat on."

Horace gave a sort of gasp.

"I suppose his poverty had compelled him to pawn it," Mrs. Errington
continued. "Don't you think so, Horace? People can pawn clothes, can't
they?"

The boy nodded. His eyes were fixed on her.

"I looked across at him," Mrs. Errington continued, "and made a sign to
him to come round to meet me by the other end, near the Row. I held up
my purse so that he might understand me."

"What did he do