“She wore round her neck a double gold locket, containing the portrait of a gentleman on one side, on the other was a likeness of the deceased lady, and, in addition to her wedding ring, she wore one with a motto and crest inside it. A description of her and the child, together with the jewellery she had on, appeared in the list of the dead and missing in the public papers at the time, but no one came forward to claim either the living or the dead.” “Can such things be possible?” exclaimed Gatliffe. “My dear sir, they are of frequent occurrence. If we could know the number of missing and unclaimed persons which every year furnishes us with, it would surprise most people. But what I am telling you now are simply facts which have come under my own observation.” “And the mother, what became of her remains?” “After every effort had been made to discover her relations, and we had given it up as hopeless, my husband paid for her funeral, and he said, at the same time, that he would never part with the child. Poor dear soul! he kept his word. She was by his bedside when his gentle spirit passed away. He almost worshipped Aveline, and she was equally attached to him. She has been indeed more than a daughter to us.” “And have you the locket and the two rings?” “They were kept in the hospital for some years, but upon my retiring, I begged them of the governors, and they at once gave orders for them to be handed over to me. I have them now.” “And do not intend to part with them, I hope?” “Certainly not. I consider they belong to Aveline.” “Why, Mrs. Maitland, this is indeed an extraordinary story.” “I have thought it a duty incumbent on me to furnish you with all the particulars. If, after hearing them, you are still disposed to have Aveline――” “If!” ejaculated the young engineer. “You do not for a moment suppose I have any desire to cancel our engagement. No, my dear madam, it is an additional reason for my cherishing and protecting her.” “Well, Tom, I hope――nay, I am sure――you will make her a good husband; and I frankly admit, if it had been left to me to select one for her, I should have chosen you.” Gatliffe sprang to his feet, put his arms round the speaker’s neck, and kissed her fondly. “Tush, tush, you silly boy,” said the widow, “what do you want to be kissing an old woman like me for?” She was, however, not in any way angry with her companion. “Is Aveline a Christian or surname, do you think?” queried Gatliffe. “I took it to be a Christian name from the fact that the mother called her child to her bedside by it, and the little thing answered to it with the greatest alacrity. It is her Christian name now. She’ll not change it when she marries, I suppose,” added the widow, with a smile. “I shall never call her by any other. You know, Mrs. Maitland, I am but in humble circumstances, but I have enough to give my dear Aveline all she can desire, and I hope in a short time to be more prosperous.”