ed to five minutes before three, James Wentworth rose from his loun

out, father?"

hey come fastest when a fellow sits twirling his thumbs. Don't look so frightened, Madge; I'm not going to do any harm. I'm onl

at home, father dear,

lways seem to set my brain on fire. No harm shall come of my going away, girl; I promise you that. The worst I shall do is

ed to arrange the shabby velve

ure I always wish you to enjoy yourself

u call 'soo

e all over long before that, and I'll try

ack by ten o'clock to-night

smooth cheeks, took his cane from a

lked up the narrow lane, amongst the groups of childre

murmured Margaret Wentworth, clasping her hands, and

tation. He had very little; a couple of sixpences and a few halfpence. Just about enough to

e minutes before the train

three he wa

out friends to visit or money to spend, he w

science; and all to be seen for nothing: so he strolled backwards and forwards upon the platform, watching the busy p

way, looking at the cabs, as, one after another, the

nly arrested by a little old man, wan and wizen and near-sighted, feeble-looking, but active, w

old confidential clerk in the hou

ollowed the old m

ikeness. But it's so many years ago - so many years - I don't suppose I should know him. An

e starting of the train. He asked some questions of the porter, and l

behind, and contrived t

he lid, with an address, writ

AMPSON

R TO SOU

rth gave a l

muttered; "I thought I

re the clerk was standing amongst t

ose to him, and touched hi

ull in the face. He looked, but there

with rather a suspicious glance

u. You can come into the waiting-room w

one of this shabby-looking str

s upon you before; and unless you are a messenger sent after me from

nswered the other. "You've got your ticket?

the office. The room was empty, for it only wanted five minutes to the st

hat, and brushed his rumple

," he said, "and look hard at me, and t

fearfully. His tremulous hands co

e moments and said nothing. But his breat

you can. It will be only wise to deny me; I'm no credit to an

? Is it really my wretched brother? I thought you we

ried Sampson Wilmot; "Heaven knows I never wished you ill. Heaven knows I was a

ecious fond of me, how was it that you stopped in the house of Dunbar and Dunbar? If you

shook his hea

h mild reproachfulness; "if I hadn't stopped at t

wer to this; but he turne

for the starti

"Give me your address, Josep

"no, no, that won't do. I've found you, my rich respect

outha

at

t Henry

s face grew li

and so awful in its nature, that the old cl

said Joseph, in a hoarse whis

rive almost immediately. Why

king automaton, such a living tool of the men you serve, that all human feeling has perished in your bre

of starting: the two men

stepped after him into the carriage; "no - no, J

go wit

u've no

me one, for I've no money - at

eat a hurry to discover that the little bit of pasteboard which Joseph Wilmot exhibited was only a return-ticket to Wandsworth. There wa

rother's face. The livid pallor had passed away, bu

of my slender means I'll give freely - I will, indeed, Joseph, for the memory of our dear mother, if not for love of you; and I do love you, Joseph

first meeting. I want to talk to you, Sampson Wilmot. And I want to see him. I know how the world's used me for the last five-and-thirt

s desk, without one moment's warning. His health was feeble, and the shock of meeting with his brother - this poor lost disgraced brother - whom he had for five-and-twenty years believed to be dead, had b

y escape, if, when we next

ting might never take place. For five-and-thirty years

ked nervously at

unjustly treated - nobody knows that better than I. But it's a long time ago, Joseph - it's a very, very long time ago. Bitter feelings die out of a man's

d the reprobate, f

t silent, with his arms

deep-blue corn flowers, bright glimpses of sunlit water, and distant villages, with grey church-turrets, nestling among trees. He looked out of the carriage-win

im, restless and uneasy, watchin

er at the first station the train sto

by, and he had

heavily upon his head, had embittered his nature. He looked upon the man whom he had once loved and trust

of any man, remembering, as he did,

were alone in

ner of the carriage. But he did not sleep. He was agitated and anxious. A dizzy faintness had seized upon him, and there was a strange buzzing in his ears,

onously in his ears: growing louder and louder with every moment; until the noise of

gstoke, when Joseph Wilmot was sudde

hat sudden start, that look of