'And then,' for she had spoken falteringly, and with an effort, as their sounds of inquiry elicited each sentence--'and then, Mr. Morton said he would follow her to Canada. He did not want Lady Northmoor to be tortured with uncertainty.' 'Very strange,' said the gentlemen one to the other, Lord Northmoor adding-- 'Thank you, Miss Rollstone; I will not detain you, unless you can tell me more.' Rose was glad to be released, though pained and vexed not to dare to express her reasons for full certainty. 'Is this only a girl's fancy?' sighed the father. 'I think she is a sensible girl.' 'And my nephew Herbert is a hard-headed fellow, not likely to fly off on a vague notion. Is this Hall girl's mother still living here?' 'Certainly. It has been a bad business, her going off with that Jones; but I ascertained that she was married to him.' 'Jones--Sam Jones, or Rattler?' 'Even so.' 'Ah! She was dismissed on his account. And I detected him in imposing on Miss Morton. Yet--where does this Mrs. Hall live?' 'Along this alley. Shall I come with you?' 'Thank you.' 'It may induce her to speak out, if there is anything to hear. I dare not hope! It is too incredible, and I don't understand those children's silence.' He spoke it almost to himself, and the clergyman thought it kinder not to interrupt his thoughts during the few steps down the evil-smelling alley that led to the house, where Mrs. Hall was washing up her cup after breakfast. It was Mr. Deyncourt who spoke, seeing that the swelling hope and doubt were almost too much for his companion. 'Good morning, Mrs. Hall; we have come to you early, but Lord Northmoor is very anxious to know whether you can throw any light on what has become of his little boy.' Mrs. Hall was in a very different state of mind from when she had denied all knowledge to Herbert, a mere boy, whom she did not like, and when she was anxious to shelter her daughter, whose silence had by this time begun to offend her. The sight of the clergyman and the other gentleman alarmed her, and she began by maundering out-- 'I am sure, sir, I don't know nothing. My daughter have never writ one line to me.' 'He was with her!' gasped out Lord Northmoor. 'I am sure, sir, it was none of my doing, no, nor my daughter wouldn't neither, only the young lady over persuaded her. 'Tis she as was the guilty party, as I'll always say.' 'She--who?' 'Miss Morton--Miss Hida, sir; and my gal wouldn't never have done it, sir, but for the stories she told, fictious stories they was, I'm sure, that the child wasn't none of my lady's, only a brat picked up in foreign parts to put her brother out of his chance.' 'What are you saying?' exclaimed Lord Northmoor. 'My niece never could have said any such thing.'