ore him."

"Very well, Mrs. Trimble. I will call at half-past ten o'clock
to-morrow morning."

The lawyer bowed himself out, leaving Mrs. Trimble and the boys
together.

"Mother," said Edward, "I have not yet had a chance to introduce to you
my friend, Chester Rand, of New York."

"I am very glad to welcome any friend of yours, Edward."

"You have reason to do so in this case, mother. But for Chester I
should not have had the money to come on from New York. He paid my
traveling expenses."

"He shall be repaid, and promptly, and he will accept my heartiest
thanks, also. I hope, Mr. Rand, you will make your home with us while
you are in Portland."

"Thank you, Mrs. Trimble, but I have already secured lodgings at a
hotel. At some future time I may accept your invitation."

Chester strongly suspected that he would not be a welcome guest to Mr.
Trimble when that gentleman learned that he had been instrumental in
bringing home his stepson in time to defeat his plans. But he called
every day till, his business being concluded, he started on his return
to New York. Edward had expected to go back with him, but to this Mrs.
Trimble would not listen.

"We have been separated long enough, Edward," she said. "Henceforth
your place is at my side. I feel that I have done you injustice, and I
want to repair it. I made a mistake in marrying Mr. Trimble, but it is
too late to correct that. I will not permit him, hereafter, to separate
me from my son."

"If you wish me to remain, mother, I will," rejoined Edward. "I was not
happy away from you. From this time forth I will stand by you and
protect you from all that is unpleasant."

Edward spoke with a courage and manliness which he had not formerly
shown. It was clear that adversity had strengthened and improved him.

CHAPTER XLI.

CONCLUSION.

Let us go back to Wyncombe. Mrs. Greene, living near Mrs. Rand, was a
lady who made it her business to know all about her neighbors' affairs.
She stepped into Silas Tripp's store to buy a pound of butter.

Mr. Tripp himself waited upon her; Mrs. Greene generally had some item
of news, and for this he possessed a keen relish.

"Any news, Mrs. Greene?" he asked, as he handed her the package of
butter.

"I suppose you've heard that the widder Rand has lost her boarder?"

"You don't say so!" returned Silas, with genuine interest.

"Yes, it's so. I saw her go off myself yesterday afternoon, bag and
baggage."

"Was she