“If it were not for leaving Elsie, I might try for a situation as housekeeper in a large establishment; I know I am fully competent for that.  I should prefer something by which I could rise, but the choice may not be given to me.  We go to Edinburgh tomorrow.  I do not think the small room we are going to will hold all the furniture we are entitled to, so will you be good enough to let what we cannot accommodate remain at Cross Hall till we can send for it?”

“Certainly; you had better lock up your room with your own things in it, and take the key,” said Francis.

“No, no; I am housekeeper enough to know that all rooms must have occasional air and sunshine.  I can trust either yourself or the housemaid with the key, knowing well that everything will be kept safe.”

“Where are you going to live?”

“With a very humble friend in ----- Street.”

“That is very near where my earliest recollections of life in Edinburgh found me situated.”

“Do you remember your mother at all?”

“I am not quite sure; but I think I have some shadowy recollection of a place before I came to Edinburgh, where I think I was with my mother.”

“Do you think she is alive now?”

“Mr. MacFarlane says he believes she is.  Do you think I should try to discover her?”

“Alive all these years, and never taking any care or notice of you!  Very unmotherly on her part!” said Jane, thoughtfully.

“No one knows how she may be situated—­her relations with my father must have been very miserable.  I cannot tell who was most to blame—­but if she were in distress, and I could help her, I am not forbidden to do that, though Mr. MacFarlane strongly advises me to make no inquiry.”

“I think, if she hears of your inheriting Cross Hall, she is likely to come forward if she needs assistance, and you certainly should give it.”

“I wish very much to look over Mr. Hogarth’s private papers.  Mr. MacFarlane has given me the keys of all his repositories.  I particularly wish you to go over them all with me, as there may be many that concern you far more than myself.  Could you spare me a few hours to-day for that purpose?  I am in hopes that we may find some clue to this marriage, and perhaps some hint that might guide me in my conduct to my mother, supposing she is still alive.  If I could find anything that would upset or modify the will, I am sure your happiness in the discovery would be less than mine.”

The long and patient search which extended over the greater part of two days discovered nothing whatever at all definite with regard to Francis’ birth.  No scrap of writing could be found that could be supposed to be from his mother.  An old bundle of papers marked outside, “Francis’ school bills, &c.” was all that rewarded their search, and they gave no information except that his education had cost his father a considerable sum of money.