CHAPTER XXIV. Edith's sickness--Meeting of Mrs. Bray and Pinky Swett--A trial of sharpness, in which neither gains the advantage--Mr. Dinneford receives a call from a lady--The lady, who is Mrs. Bray, offers information--Mr. Dinneford surprises her into admitting an important fact--Mrs. Bray offers to produce the child for a price--Mr. Dinneford consents to pay the price on certain stipulations--Mrs. Bray departs, promising to come again CHAPTER XXV. Granger's pardon procured--How he receives his pardon--Mrs. Bray tries to trace Pinky home--Loses sight of her in the street--Mrs. Bray interviews a shop-woman--Pinky's destination--The child is gone CHAPTER XXVI. Mrs. Bray does not call on Mr. Dinneford, as she promised--Peril to Andrew Hall through loss of the child--Help--Edith longs to see or write to Granger, but does not--Edith encounters Mrs. Bray in the street--“Where is my baby?”--Disappointment--How to identify the child if found CHAPTER XXVII. No trace of Andy--Account of Andy's abduction--Andy's prison--An outlook from prison--A loose nail--The escape--The sprained ankle--The accident CHAPTER XXVIII. Edith's visit to the children's hospital--“Oh, my baby! thank God! my baby!”--The identification CHAPTER XXIX. Meeting of Mr. Dinneford and George Granger--“We want you to help us find your child”--“Edith's heart is calling out for you”--The meeting--The marriage benediction CAST ADRIFT. CHAPTER I. _A BABY_ had come, but he was not welcome. Could anything be sadder? The young mother lay with her white face to the wall, still as death. A woman opened the chamber door noiselessly and came in, the faint rustle of her garments disturbing the quiet air. A quick, eager turning of the head, a look half anxious, half fearful, and then the almost breathless question, “Where is my baby?” “Never mind about the baby,” was answered, almost coldly; “he's well enough. I'm more concerned about you.” “Have you sent word to George?” “George can't see you. I've said that before.” “Oh, mother! I must see my husband.” “Husband!” The tone of bitter contempt with which the word was uttered struck the daughter like a blow. She had partly risen in her excitement, but now fell back with a low moan, shutting her eyes and turning her face away. Even as she did so, a young man stepped back from the door of the elegant house in which she lay with a baffled, disappointed air. He looked pale and wretched. “Edith!” Two hours afterward the doctor stood over the young mother, and called her name. She did not move nor reply. He laid his hand on her cheek, and almost started, then bent down and looked at her intently for a moment or two. She had fever. A serious expression came into his face, and there was cause.