in which her exchequer
was filling. Mr Blewcome was in the midst of a most instructive
harangue upon the nature and habits of that sportive animal, the
elephant, and Harry sat on the steps of the platform, where the band
was playing, and watched the people whom the show attracted, and those,
too, who kept perpetually passing to and fro between the centre of the
town and the docks. For the menagerie had taken up its position in an
open space close by some wharves adjoining the docks.

By and by there appeared in the distance, coming from the docks, a
figure which Harry seemed to know.

Impossible! It could not be! Whom should he be likely to meet with,
here, miles and miles away from Wilton. He strained his eyes. The
figure came nearer, was just passing with a half-careless look at the
show. A brave, stern face,--a sad, earnest face--a stout, manly form.
Harry looked again eagerly through the darkening shadows of the summer
evening, and then running hastily through the wondering, jostling,
bustling crowd, was at his father's side.

"Papa, papa!" he cried, "don't you know me?"

Alan Campbell turned suddenly and looked inquiringly at him, and then
putting his arm round his boy's neck, round the poor, common clothes,
kissed him with the fondness of one who had found what he had lost and
yearned to find; and, in a voice scarcely audible with emotion,
murmured repeatedly, "Thank God! thank God! found at last!"

CHAPTER XVIII.

FATHER AND SON.

Boots' errand--Mutual explanations--Mrs
Blewcome--Questioned--Astonished--Overwhelmed--The parting.

Half-an-hour afterwards Harry was sitting with his father in a private
room of the best hotel in the town, his heart full of delight, and very
much to the astonishment of the waiters, who could not understand why
the gentleman had brought in this young ragamuffin to eat with him, and
to be waited on by their dignified hands.

But the father was too reserved to enlighten them, and Harry too
bewildered at the strange events of that evening, to say anything at
supper which might betray the relationship to the attendant menials.

What was their surprise, however, when Mr Campbell gave directions for
word to be sent to the Royal Menagerie that was "exhibiting" in the
town, to request the proprietor or his wife, or both, to come at once
to the hotel, as he wished to speak with them. There was quite a
contention down stairs, as to who should go on the degrading erran