lle, but he must
be more careful hereafter."

"I'm sure I'm obliged to you, ma'am," said Aggie demurely.

When she was out of the room she nodded to herself triumphantly.

"Sure, I've got the old lady under me thumb, but divil a bit I know how.
It's all in the word Jonas. When I want a favor, all I've got to do is
to say that word. I wonder what it manes now, anyhow."

However, Aggie communicated to Dan the welcome intelligence that he
would have no trouble with Mrs. Brent or Philip, but as to the way in
which she had managed she kept that to herself.

"I want to think it over," she said. "There's a secret, and it's about
Jonas. I'll wait patiently, and maybe I'll hear some more about it."

As for Mrs. Brent, she was panic-stricken. Uncertain how much Aggie
knew, she feared that she knew all. But how could she have discovered
it? And was it come to this that she and Jonas were in the power of an
Irish chambermaid? It was galling to her pride.

She turned to her son when they were left alone.

"How could she have found out?" she asked.

"Found out what, mother?"

"That your name is Jonas. She evidently knows it. I could see that in
her eyes."

"She must have heard you calling me so. I've told you more than once,
ma, that you must never call me anything but Philip."

"It is hard to have to keep silent always, never to speak to you as my
own boy. I begin to think it is a dear price to pay, Jonas."

"There you go again, mother!" said Jonas, peevishly.

His mother had seated herself and spoke despondently.

"I am afraid it will all come out some day," she said.

"It will if you don't take better care, ma. I tell you, it would be
the best thing for you to go away. Mr. Granville will give you a good
income. If I was left alone, there'd be no fear of its leaking out."

"Oh, Jonas! would you really have me leave you? Would you really have me
live by myself, separated from my only child?"

Cold as she was, her heart was keenly wounded, for, looking at the boy,
she saw that he was in earnest, and that he would prefer to have her go,
since thereby he would be safer in the position he had usurped.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.

"Mr. Carter, can you spare me a couple of days?" asked Philip.

"Certainly, Phil," answered the old gentleman. "May I ask how you wish
to dispose of the time?"

"I would like to go to Planktown to see my friends there. It is now
some months since I left the village