id. "I was coming
to the Hall to report to you after I had been in to the
superintendent."

"What is it?"

"There has been a burglary at Mrs. Hornblower's, sir. If you
please, sir," to Julius, "when is the Reverend Mr. Bowater expected
home?"

"Not before Monday. Is anything of his taken?"

"Yes, sir. A glass case has been broken open, and a silver cup and
oar, prizes for sports at college, I believe, have been abstracted.
Also the money from the till below; and I am sorry to say, young
Hornblower is absconded, and suspicion lies heavy on him. They do
say the young man staked heavily on that mare of Captain
Duncombe's."

"You had better go on to the superintendent now," said Raymond.
"You can come to me for a summons if you can find any traces."

Poor Mrs. Hornblower, what horror for her! and poor Herbert too who
would acutely feel this ingratitude. The blackness of it was beyond
what Julius thought probable in the lad, and the discussion of it
occupied the brothers till they reached the Reynolds colony, where
they were received by the daughter-in-law, a much more civilized
person than old Betty.

After Fanny's dislocated arm had been set, the surgeon had sent her
home in the Rectory carriage, saying there was so much fever in
Wil'sbro', that she would be likely to recover better at home; but
she had been suffering and feverish all night, and Dan Reynolds was
now gone in quest of 'Drake,' for whom she had been calling all
night.

"Is he her husband?" asked Julius.

"Well, I don't know, sir; leastways, Granny says he ought to be
answerable for what's required."

Mrs. Reynolds further betrayed that the family had not been ignorant
of Fanny's career since she had run away from home, leaving her
child on her grandmother's hands. She had made her home in one of
the yellow vans which circulate between fairs and races, driving an
ostensible trade in cheap toys, but really existing by setting up
games which were, in fact, forms of gambling, according to the taste
of the people and the toleration of the police. From time to time,
she had appeared at home, late in the evening, with small sums of
money and presents for her boy; and Mrs. Dan believed that she
thought herself as good as married to 'that there Drake.' She was
reported to be asleep, and the place 'all of a caddle,' and Julius
promised to call later in the day.

"Yes, sir," said Mrs. Reynolds; "it would be a right good thing,
poor girl. She'