just now. He would have been at service to-day but is rather indisposed."

Five minutes afterwards Edgar Trevelyan was in the bishop's library.

"Mr. Edgar Trevelyan, of Hamfield,' said his lordship, laying down the card which had preceded the visitor.

"Yes, my lord. I have ventured to call on a somewhat peculiar errand, and perhaps the best plan will be, if your lordship will allow me, to give a full explanation at once." The bishop bowed pleasantly, and asked him to be seated.

"The circumstances of the case will compel me to speak of myself, my lord. I am a member of the legal profession, and having had business at Rockby this afternoon I availed myself of the opportunity of attending service at the Cathedral. The voices of two of the boys attracted my particular attention."

"You mean Kent and Wilton."

"I do, my lord. After service I ques

tioned one of the vergers, and he told me of your lordship's noble acts in relation to the lad Kent. I am compelled to trouble your lordship with further detail about myself. I am a married man, but Heaven has not blessed us with any children. My wife and I have often contemplated the adoption of a destitute boy. The lad Kent would charm. both her and myself, and to endeavour to obtain him is the object of my visit."

"I appreciate your motive, sir, and, although I should have seen after the lad, your wishes may be carried out if I can be sure the change will be beneficial. What would you propose to do with him?"

"I am rich from my profession; but, in addition, an uncle has recently died and left me the whole of his estate. I am just winding up his affairs prior to retiring from practice. The lad shall be educated and brought up as a gentleman, and due care shall be taken as to his vocation in the world."

Before Mr. Trevelyan left to catch the train it was arranged that the bishop should be at liberty to make enquiries, and should receive proofs in confirmation of his visitor's statements, and that, subject to his lordship's being satisfied on these points, the lad should be delivered up if willing to go.

A few days after the conversation just narrated the bishop was ushered into Mr. Trevelyan's private office.

"I thought it would be more convenient for me to call here, rather than trouble you to bring the documentary proofs to Rockby. The result of the enquiries is perfectly satisfactory."

"I am glad of that, my lord, and I think I can satisfy you as to the other question." Then, going to a safe and bringing forth various parcels, "Here is the probate of my uncle's will. As your lordship will observe, the personalty is sworn under £50,000. There is a list of the real estate showing the values, and there"-pointing to several bundles in

the safe" are the deeds. are the deeds. I need not tell your lordship that I could not have these deeds in my possession if the premises were mortgaged; but I give you my word of honour that the properties are mine and free from incumbrances. Here, too, is Railway

and other scrip for

£30,000, and in this

bundle are the deeds of the house in Greenhill Crescent where I live. Those parcels which "

"Enough, my good sir. There is certainly sufficient here to satisfy anyone that you are in a position to bring up the lad as you stated."

"Would you like a closer inspection of any of these documents, my lord ?"

"No, thank you," said the bishop; "I am quite satisfied. Besides," he added, with a good-humoured smile, "would I be much wiser if I were to read all these deeds through ?"

"Well, some titles are certainly very complicated," replied Mr. Trevelyan. "And

now, my lord, there is only the lad's consent."

"I have brought him with me-not, of course, to hand him over to-day. He is with your clerks in the outer office."

"Before we have him in, perhaps I had better take such particulars as your lordship can furnish of his antecedents. They might be useful at some time."

"The information is very scanty," said the bishop. "The woman with whom the poor lad lived was an inveterate drunkard. She sent him out to beg that she might obtain means for the gratification of her vicious appetite. They lived in a wretched hovel, and slept upon straw or the bare boards. When the woman was questioned she said the lad had lived with her since the desertion of him by his aunt, who had kept him after the death of his mother. All the searches which I caused to be made failed to discover this aunt. Her name was Lee, and the mother's name was Kent. Here you will find a full account,