Robert followed thankfully; but only intense weariness, only despair, would have made him pass the night with such a crew as those amongst whom he soon found himself. Happily sleep overpowered him, and he got through the hours of darkness in forgetfulness; but he awoke with a shudder upon him and a fear of his surroundings.

"I'll try only one more day; by to-night I ought to find out if there is any work to be had. If there's no work, then I must die; and I won't die here if I can get back into the fields."

A few hours later another thought, another longing took entire possession of his heart-to go home once more; to kiss his mother and Emmy, and all of them again before he died; for he was so ill now that he felt he could not recover.

CHAPTER XI.

WAS IT TOO LATE?

IS too late! I can never do it! I shall never see 'em again! Oh, mother! oh, Emmy! I must die here, though I did pray so earnest I felt as if God must hear me!" So moaned Robert to himself as, next day, he suddenly gave up the struggle, and dropped down helplessly on the first door-step.

"You can't stay here, boy; you must go home," said a voice, and there stood another policeman, who added decidedly that he must "move on."

The boy staggered to his feet, but, instead of "moving on," he gave one searching look at the man with his woe-begone eyes, then grasped his arm, and uttered an excited cry, "Oh, Charlie ! Charlie!"

"Who is it? Not Robert Watson, surely. Oh, Bobby, it is you!" cried the young policeman

(who a year since had left the village where Robert had been born to come to London).

"Yes, I'm Robert. And, oh! Charlie, I'm too ill now to get home, as I meant to do. If I could have kissed mother and Emmy once more, I shouldn't have minded dying. Will you tell 'em about me, and give father my love, too, and all the others?".

The young man's voice was husky as he replied, "I'll do more than that, I hope. I've heard all about you running away when I went down home last month. Why they've been doing everything they could think of to find you. But cheer up, my boy; by this time to-morrow you'll be with 'em all again."

"But I can't walk. I'm ill now," said Robert feebly. In his weak state it had shaken him from head to foot to meet this friend who came from near his own home, and to be able to send a last message to his mother.

"You're about starving-that's what you are, I expect ; but we'll soon get you round," said Charlie encouragingly. "A night's rest and a good supper 'll do wonders. See, I've got money, and you come along with me."

He gently but firmly took hold of the boy, as if fearing he would escape again, and soon they

entered a coffee-house, and ordered there some soup and a bed for Robert. The proprietor of the place would not have admitted a customer of poor Robert's forlorn appearance; but a few words from the young policeman made him willing to do so, and the famished child was soon eating some warm soup in a snug corner by himself.

You're to stay here till I

"I shall have to leave you, Bobby, for to-night, but all will be right now. come for you to-morrow morning, mind. Then we'll go together to the station, and in three hours or so you'll be at home. Get a good sleep to

night; they'll take care of you here, they're friends of mine."

"Oh! Charlie, how good, how kind you are!" sobbed Robert.

"Nonsense! I'm glad enough to find you, I can tell you. But promise me faithfully you'll not run away this time."

"Run away, Charlie! ill," answered the boy.

Why, I can't—I'm too "Besides, didn't I tell

you I want to see mother once again?"

“Good night then, and I'll be here first thing to-morrow." And with that And with that "Charlie" hurried away, saying in a whisper as he went out, " Have an eye on him, I'll get him safe off

to-morrow."

your hands "All right!" was the reply, accompanied by a friendly nod.

Before the young policeman went off duty himself, he had despatched the following telegram to Mr. Breeley, who had long since returned to Lington :

"Robert Watson found. mid-day train to-morrow. thing to meet him."

Will go home by the Have a cart or some

As for Robert, think what it was to him to find himself once more in a decent bed, to rest his aching limbs and head again, to feel sheltered, to