"Well, what of that? We don't want his mother, do we? It is his father we are talking about." "I know that," came the calm answer. And Dobson looked very knowing. "I am a monkey and a silly, and I don't know what besides, but I may be able to think smarter than you can, Elgert. May not Charlton's mother lead us to Charlton's father? She is sure to know where he is, and do you know that since that affair she has been going to the St. Clives' a lot----" "How do you know?" demanded Elgert. "My sister told me that she has seen her go there frequently; and sometimes, instead of going right in at the front gate she has gone in at the side one. That looks strange, don't it? And she was not visiting there before--I know that." Elgert pondered a while in silence, then he suddenly turned, and Dobson inquired where he was going. "To follow her. There may be something in what you say. I should hardly think that they would hide a convict away, but they might--some people do such strange things--and St. Clive don't like my father, I know. Let us follow her." "Well, it will only be to St. Clive's place. And what are we to do then? We can't say that she goes to see her husband because she goes there." "What did you tell me about it for, then? You looked knowing enough. It is not much good talking of a thing if we cannot follow it up. I am going after her, at any rate. You need not come if you don't want to." "Oh, I will come, Disagreeable!" answered Dobson. And the two boys set out, following the lady, who was quite unconscious of their wicked desires. And they could follow her openly and without fear, for if she had seen them close by her side she would have thought nothing of it. The boys from the school were common enough objects in the place. And it chanced that Mrs. Charlton was indeed going to see her poor husband; to try and cheer him, and urge him to be hopeful and patient, and to tell him that presently the clouds would all vanish, and the sun shine out again. And after her the two boys went like spies, and neither Elgert nor Dobson thought what a wicked thing they were doing. There was with them the love of doing evil and causing sorrow--the delight of little, spiteful natures--but there was also the greater desire to cause Ralph Rexworth pain. That was before everything, and so on they went. And Mrs. Charlton, all unconscious of evil, entered the grounds of Mr. St. Clive's house, and as Dobson had said, she went in at the side gate. Mr. St. Clive had arranged that with her, so that she could go directly to her husband's cottage without any of the servants in the house knowing that she was there. And the boys stood at that gate undecided for a little while. The path was soon lost to view amidst the bushes. Elgert looked round, and then deliberately climbed over the gate.