n long enough to
follow up the criminal. I engaged passage in the Saturday steamer for my
mother and myself before returning to the hotel.

We remained four days in London, during which time I kept my mother's
mind fully occupied in replenishing her wardrobe.

CHAPTER XXVI.

IN WHICH ERNEST RETURNS TO PARKVILLE WITH HIS MOTHER, AND THE STORY ENDS
ON THE SHORES OF LAKE ADIENO.

IF E. Dunkswell had not helped me overboard, as I think he did, he might
have reached London before I did, and thus defeated me, at least for a
time. Twice had he confused and confounded his own schemes. Bunyard,
deceived by the letter I had brought from my uncle, gave me the address
of my mother. If not before, he learned his blunder when Dunkswell
arrived. I could fancy the confusion with which they confronted each
other when the facts came out. But it was "all up" with them. They had
been "whipped out," and I was satisfied. I did not wish to prosecute
them, because it would delay me, and because it would expose our family
affairs, and subject my mother to more excitement than she could bear.

She was weak and nervous, and I did not encourage her to talk much of
the past. I went with her to Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and
other places with which she was familiar. On Friday afternoon we bade
adieu to Mr. Solomons, and went to Liverpool. My mother was now entirely
changed in appearance. She had laid aside her worn-out black silk and
her unfashionable bonnet. She looked like a lady, and she was one. I was
proud of her. The future was now full of hope and joy to me, and I was
the happiest young man in the world.

On Saturday we sailed for home. My mother seemed then to feel that she
was out of the reach of the enemy who had persecuted her for so many
years. She overcame her nervousness, and her strength increased every
day. I had purchased a rocking-chair in Liverpool for her use on the
hurricane deck, and every pleasant day we sat together there. On these
days my mother told me what she had suffered. I had not permitted her to
do so before, anxious as I was to learn the facts. I will state them
briefly, as I derived them from these conversations.

My mother was born in Paris of English parents, but both of them died
before she was eighteen. She was well educated, and being left without
any means of support, she became a governess in an American family
residing in the city. Here my father made her acquaintance, and married