_EVERY_ home for friendless children, every sin or poverty-blighted ward and almost every hovel, garret and cellar where evil and squalor shrunk from observation were searched for the missing child, but in vain.

No trace of him could be found.

The agony of suspense into which Edith's mind was brought was beginning to threaten her reason.

It was only by the strongest effort at self-compulsion that she could keep herself to duty among the poor and suffering, and well for her it was that she did not fail here; it was all that held her to safe mooring.
One day, as she was on her way home from some visit of mercy, a lady who was passing in a carriage called to her from the window, at the same time ordering her driver to stop.

The carriage drew up to the sidewalk.
"Come, get in," said the lady as she pushed open the carriage door.