it was not long before it began to run short,
and they lived very plain. He had all sorts of things, whips and books and
dressing-cases. These gradually went, and a year after the child was born
they moved upstairs, the rooms being cheaper for them. A year later they
occupied one room. The wife fell ill, and the rent was often in arrears.
He was getting very shabby in his dress too. The child was three years old
when its mother died. He sold all he had left to bury her decently, and as
he had no money to pay his arrears of rent, he gave me a silver-mounted
looking-glass, which I understood his mother had given him, and he said:
'Don't you sell this, but keep it, and one day or other I will come back
and redeem it.' "

"This is the glass, sir," the lawyer said. "My clerk redeemed it after
telling her that her lodger had died long ago. He went round to St.
Matthew's Church and obtained the certificate of the child's baptism. So I
think now, Mr. Gilmore, that we have all the evidence that can be
required. Mrs. Giles, on hearing that the child was alive, said she would
be happy to come forward and repeat what she had said to my clerk. She
seemed very interested in the affair, and is evidently a kindly
good-hearted woman. I fancy the silver frame is of Italian workmanship,
and will probably be recognized by your grandfather. At any rate, someone
there is sure to know it. Now I think you are in a position to go down and
see him, and if you wish I will write to him to-day. I shall not go into
matters at all, and shall merely say that the son of his son, Mr. William
Gilmore, is coming down to have an interview with him, and is provided
with all necessary proofs of his birth."

The next morning Will took the coach and went down to Radstock, in
Somersetshire. He put up at the inn on his arrival, and next morning hired
a gig and drove to the house of Sir Ralph Gilmore. It was a very fine
mansion standing in an extensive park.

"Not a bad place by any means," Will said to himself; "I should certainly
be proud to bring Alice down here."

He alighted at the entrance and sent in his name, and was immediately
shown into the library, where a tall old man was sitting.

"I understand, sir," he said stiffly, "that you claim to be the son of my
son, William Gilmore?"

"I do, sir, and I think the proofs I shall give you will satisfy you. You
will understand, sir, please, before I do so, that I have no desire
whatever to make any claim