"My dear sir," he exclaimed, "I was not aware how deeply I was wounding you, and yet, my friend, it is better to know the truth. You may yet prove a friend to her boy, and should she be taken away, the poor child will greatly need one." It would be difficult to describe the feelings which agitated Roger Kyffin's kind heart. He had one consolation. He might, as the doctor suggested, prove a friend and guardian to the orphan boy. The kind doctor called every day to report on the health of his patient. He gladly undertook to do all in his power in carrying out Mr. Kyffin's wishes, and promised not to betray the donor of the money which was to be placed at Mrs. Tryon's disposal. Roger Kyffin could with difficulty tear himself away from the neighbourhood. He received constant communications from Dr. Jessop, who sent him rather more favourable reports of Mrs. Tryon. Five years passed by--Mrs. Tryon's mother was dead. She had no wish to leave her little cottage. Where, indeed, could she go? Her only employment was that of watching over her little boy. During this time several changes had taken place in the neighbourhood. Sir Harcourt Tryon died. Though he must have been aware of his grandson's existence, he had never expressed any wish to see him. At length the mother caught cold. The effect was serious. Dr. Jessop became alarmed, and wrote an account of her state to Mr. Kyffin. She could no longer take Harry out to walk, and had therefore to send him under charge of a nursemaid. One day he and his nurse were longer absent than usual. What could have kept them? The young mother went to the garden-gate several times, and looked anxiously along the road. She felt the wind very cold. Again she entered the house. Could she have mistaken the hour? The next time she threw a shawl over her shoulders, but the cold made her cough fearfully. At last she saw a female figure in the distance. It was Susan the nurse, but Harry was not with her. Mrs. Tryon had to support herself by the gate till the girl came up. "Where is Harry? where is my child?" she exclaimed. "I could not help it, ma'am, I did my best to prevent it," answered the nurse, crying. Poor Fanny's heart sank within her; her knees trembled. "Prevent what?" she exclaimed; "what has happened? where is my boy?"