istant spires of Southampton glowing
in the morning sun.

CHAPTER XV

Mr. and Mrs. Earl met us at the station of the Southwestern Railway
in London, and we were driven at once to their home. Hester came to
breakfast with us, but Mrs. Earl would not let her go to Liverpool that
day, ship-worn and fatigued as we all felt after the voyage.

"You resemble your father, sir, when he was of your age," said Mr.
Earl, addressing my cousin, as we were eating. "But you are larger, much
larger, than he was."

"You were my father's friend when he was a young man, I believe?" said
Rayel.

"Yes, he and his brother were my best friends in those days. I tried to
induce him to study law, but he was more inclined to medicine."

Rayel had found a man quite after his liking and the two were on the
best of terms at once. Indeed, he seemed to talk with my benefactor as
freely as he ever talked with me. I found Mrs. Earl very much as I had
imagined my mother to have been--a full-faced, ruddy-cheeked woman; with
a sweet voice and gentle manners. She greeted me as if I were her own
son returned from a long journey, and when we sat down to talk after
breakfast, I felt the joy and peace of one who has found a home after
much wandering.

I spent the afternoon with Mr. Earl in his library, and he listened with
deep interest to the complete story of my life since the night we parted
in Liverpool.

He had many questions to ask me touching the attempt upon my life, and
my replies were jotted down in his memorandum-book. After I had told him
all that I was able to tell he sat for some moments thoughtfully
turning the pages of the book, stopping now and then to read some of the
memoranda.

"It looks pretty bad for them, doesn't it?" said he calmly, looking up
at me over his spectacles. "But we'll bring this matter to a climax very
soon," he continued. "We haven't seen the last act of the play yet. You
need not have any further fear for your safety--I will look after that.
You may feel quite free to go and come as you please in this part of the
city. Above all things we must avoid letting them know that we suspect
anything; it might defeat me in getting hold of the last bit of evidence
that is necessary to complete our case."

I nodded, and waited for him to proceed.

"Let us go carefully until we're sure of our ground," he continued.
"Your stepmother knows you are in London, of course. You must go and see
her. Take your cousin with y