bout my marriage, although I know it's been
talked about. But there is you to consider. Stepaside is not your
real name. It is the name of a hamlet, the place where I fell down,
thinking and hoping and almost praying that I should die. It's a name
of disgrace. It was given to you because the workhouse master could
think of nothing else. And I should never rest in my grave thinking
that you did not possess your rights! We must find him, Paul. We must
make him do you justice, ay, and make him suffer, too, as I have
suffered!"

"Have you not forgotten or forgiven yet?" he asked, almost startled by
the look on his mother's face.

"Forgotten, forgiven!" And it did not seem to be like her voice at
all. "Never, while I have a brain to think or a heart to feel!
Forgiven! As I said, for myself it does not matter, although for many
a month I was in hell! But I can never forget the injury he has done
to you--you who were branded in the village where you were reared as a
come-by-chance child, a workhouse brat, reared, upon the rates, a
burden to the parish! Can I forgive that, while perhaps he--he may
have married again."

"Perhaps he did not," said Paul. "Perhaps he sent that man to your old
home to inquire because, after all, he was caring for you!"

"What's that?" cried the woman angrily. "To send to inquire! Did he
follow the steps I took? If he cared for me, if he were faithful to
his promise, he would have traced me to Cornwall. He would never give
up seeking for me until he had found me or discovered the truth about
me. No, Paul, we must make him pay for it, we must! And don't ever
hint about giving it up again. I've had a feeling lately that I'm
going to find him, and when I do--when I do----"

And Paul saw that his mother's eyes burned red. She seemed to have
lost control over herself entirely. "I have plans even now," she went
on presently.

"What plans?" he asked.

"I am not going to tell you," she replied. "But I've not been thinking
all these years for nothing! Directly you wrote me the account of
your visit to Scotland it all came back to me again. I've been
thinking it over week after week and month after month. And I have a
feeling that I shall find him. I must, for your sake, Paul! You love
that lass, and you must marry her. I know that you are dreaming of her
night and day. I know that you'll never be happy without her!"

He opened his mouth as if to contradict her, but co