the slightest degree troubled
by the loss; their only feeling seemed to be, as Tony expressed it,
that it was a "good riddance," save that they had no other
resting-place for the night. A pitying neighbor had given them their
supper; and they were told that their mother had gone out early in the
morning, soon after they had gone to business, and, re-appearing with a
carter, had had her few possessions carried away, leaving no word
whither she was bound, or message for the helpless children. The
mystery was solved in a degree, when two police-officers appeared a few
hours later, saying that Blair was "wanted" for a grave offence against
the law; but the bird had flown, and so far left no trace.

I was delighted, and could almost have thanked Blair for committing a
crime which rendered flight necessary, and seemed to leave the way open
for a decent provision for the destitute children.

Captain Yorke told us that Mrs. Petersen was going to keep them for the
night, and that they were already quite at home and comfortable, and
Tony excitedly happy,--happiness and Matty could not be
associated,--with the motherly German woman and her husband.

But our two gentlemen and Captain Yorke had not yet come to any
conclusion as to what was to be done with Theodore; and it was an
embarrassing question to decide. To take the boy, a boy who was making
fair progress in his studies, and who was pains-taking and ambitious,
from school, and bury him in the quiet sea-side home, where, save for
three or four months of the year, he would be almost altogether cut off
from association with any but the few still primitive inhabitants of
the Point, and where he would be entirely deprived of any advantages of
education, seemed almost too much punishment even for the grave
offences which those three honorable, high-minded men found it hard to
condone. But, again, it was not to be thought of, that, devoid of
conscience and right feeling as he was, he should be left alone exposed
to the temptations of the great city. For Captain and Mrs. Yorke must
shortly return home, Mrs. Yorke's physician having pronounced her
sufficiently cured to be allowed to do so in the course of a few weeks;
and, even as it was, the nominal protection of Theodore's grandparents
had formed no safeguard against evil. The evil was in his own heart,
but he might be placed where there would be fewer opportunities for its
development.

It was a grave matter for consideration,