difficulties, their sale and the break up of the family.  He also found out that the youngest Miss Polkington was married and the second, and now only remaining one, had come home before the break up.  As to where the family were now, that was not quite so clear; Mrs. Polkington was with one of her married daughters; her address was easily obtainable and apparently considered all that any one could require, and quite sufficient to cover the rest of the family.  Captain Polkington—­nobody thought much about him—­when they did, it was generally concluded he was with his wife.  As for Julia, she must have got a situation of some sort—­unless, which was unlikely, she was with her parents.  Rawson-Clew took Mrs. Polkington’s address—­it was all he could get—­and determined to write to her.

It did occur to him to write to Julia at her sister’s house and request that his letter was forwarded; but he did not do so; he was not at all sure she would answer; he wanted to see her face to face this time.  He wrote to Mrs. Polkington and asked her for Julia’s address, introducing himself as a friend met in Holland, and explaining his reason, vaguely to be connected with that time.

When Mrs. Polkington received the letter she thought it over a little; then she showed it to Violet, and they discussed it together.  At the outset they made a mistake; they only knew of one person of the name of Rawson-Clew—­the Captain’s young acquaintance; he had certainly gone away from Marbridge last spring and so in point of time could have met Julia in Holland, only it was not likely that he had, or that he had become friendly with her.  At least so Violet said; Mrs. Polkington, who knew what remarkable things herself and family could do in the way of getting to know people, was inclined to think differently.  On one point, however, they were agreed; it would be very unpleasant to have to tell one in the position of Mr. Rawson-Clew about Julia’s present proceedings.  Giving the address would be giving the information, or something like it—­one would have to explain—­“Miss Julia Snooks, White’s Cottage, near Halgrave.”

“We can’t do that,” Violet said with decision.

“I might say I would forward a letter, perhaps?” Mrs. Polkington suggested.

But Violet did not think that would do either.  “Julia would answer it,” she said; “and that would be quite as bad; you know, she is not in the least ashamed of herself.”

Mrs. Polkington did know it.  “I believe you are right,” she said, with the air of one convinced against her will; “Julia has voluntarily cut herself adrift from her own class; it would be unpleasant and embarrassing for her as well as for other people to force her into any connection with it again; I don’t think any purpose can be served by reopening an acquaintance with Mr. Rawson-Clew, we did not know him at Marbridge”—­she never forgot that his circle there did not think her good enough to know.  “I cannot imagine that