the room.

"Mrs. Thornton is out in the garden, but I will call her," said Mrs.
Challis--or I supposed it was she.

"Never mind calling her. I will see her in the garden," I added, going
out of the back door, which was open, without waiting for the woman's
permission.

Walking in the back part of the garden I discovered a lady, thin and
pale, dressed in coarse but neat garments. It was my mother. I could
hardly control myself. My eyes filled with tears as I looked at her.

"Mrs. Thornton?" I asked, tremblingly.

"I am Mrs. Thornton," replied she, gazing curiously at me.

"I suppose you know Amos Thornton?" I continued, not daring to tell her
who I was.

"To my sorrow I do," she replied, shaking her head.

"I have heard that you had a son."

"He is gone--why do you ask?"

"Gone?"

"He is dead," said she, sadly.

"Are you sure?"

"For a long time I would not believe it."

"I think it is a mistake."

Her chest heaved with emotion, and the tears flowed down her pale cheek.
She gazed at me a moment, and then threw her arms around my neck.

"You are my son--I know you are!" sobbed she.

"My mother!" was all I could say; and we wept for many minutes in
silence, closely folded in each other's arms.

When I raised my head, Mrs. Challis was standing by us. She had a
troubled look, as though she feared something had gone wrong.

"What does all this mean?" she asked; but neither of us took any notice
of her.

"I have hoped all the time that you were not dead," said my mother,
smiling through her tears.

"I must return to London immediately, and you must go with me, mother,"
I continued.

"To London!" exclaimed Mrs. Challis. "Indeed she must not go to London!"

"Indeed she must!" I added, as decidedly as though I meant to break
through a stone wall, if need be. "Get ready as quick as you can,
mother, for there is not more than time enough for us to reach the
station."

"I say she cannot go!" interposed Mrs. Challis.

"And I say she can and shall! Get your clothes, mother."

"There is three pound five due for her board," added the landlady.

"Give me the bill, and I will pay it."

My mother seemed to be bewildered, but I led her to the house, and urged
her to prepare for her journey. Mrs. Challis, after I had paid her bill,
continued to object to the departure of her boarder. I told her if she
wished to keep out of trouble, the less she said, the better it would be
for her. My poor mother had be