ggie Chanter, and would mumble sometimes--

"It was all very well for folks to leave their children on people's
doorsteps, and then when they were grown nicely, and every one loved
them, it was very fine to come and claim them;" and she would say,
"There's no love lost between me and Mrs. Skinner's daughter, and I
don't hold with girls going off with poor sickly photographers when
they might have rode in their carriage and married rich grocers."

People like Susan generally speak in the plural number when their
remarks are directed to one person who is the object of their satire or
reproof.

The longed-for moment came at last. As the three neared the house,
George Paterson said:

"Run on and go to your mother alone, boy; she will like it best."

Jack did as he was bid, and in a few minutes he was kneeling at his
mother's side, clasping her round the waist and covering her with
kisses.

"Forgive me, mother dear; forgive me!"

Mrs. Harrison could only press the boy close to her heart and murmur
over him tender words, while Joy's little voice said:

"Kiss me too, Jack, dear Jack. Of course every one forgives
you--because God for Christ's sake has forgiven us. Oh, dear, _dear_
old Jack!"

It was not till Jack was in his bed that night that his mother,
kneeling by him, poured out her heart in thankfulness to God. Then he
drew from under his pillow the old red and yellow handkerchief, and in
a few words told the story as the sailor had told it to him.

"The token has come at last," poor Patience said. "Yes, I marked those
letters on the handkerchief with my own hand. Oh, Jack! Jack! it all
comes back to me, and I have had a weary time of waiting; but it is
better to _know_ at last."

CHAPTER XV.

_THE HERITAGE OF PEACE._

The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment; and the house that is
built on the sand must needs fall to ruin at last.

Mr. Skinner received the box with his accustomed composure, though he
turned deadly pale. It was an _extra_ordinary coincidence that the box
was found in the sandy ground. How it came there he was at a loss to
conjecture.

"The less said about it the better," George Paterson remarked, "and you
owe this boy a full apology."

"Well, it _is_ possible there is a mistake somewhere. However, we will
give the youngster the benefit of the doubt, and send him home to his
mother."

"Doubt!" Maggie exclaimed vehemently; "_doubt_! You stole the box,
Joe, and hid