much attention, walking very slowly. He got her to repeat her
second-hand description of the old man who had been inquiring for
people named Snowdon.

'To think that you should have been just too late!' he exclaimed
with annoyance. 'Have you any idea who he was?'

'I can't think, sir,' Jane replied sadly.

Sidney took a hopeful tone--thought it very likely that the
inquirer would pursue his search with success, being so near the
house where Jane's parents had lived,

'I'll keep my eyes open,' he said. 'Perhaps I might see him. He'd be
easy to recognise, I should think.'

'And would you tell him, sir,' Jane asked eagerly.

'Why, of course I would. You'd like me to, wouldn't you?'

Jane's reply left small doubt on that score. Her companion looked
down at her again, and said with compassionate gentleness:

'Keep a good heart, Jane. Things'll be better some day, no doubt.'

'Do you think so, sir?'

The significance of the simple words was beyond all that eloquence
could have conveyed. Sidney muttered to himself, as he had done
before, like one who is angry. He laid his hand on the child's