, I'm not tired," she said. "I feel as though I should never be
tired again. It's all so wonderful--this beautiful home, given to me
by my son! Oh, my lad, my lad!"

They sat down side by side, Paul holding his mother's hand in his.
"To-morrow," he thought, "or as soon as she is well enough, I'll take
her to Manchester, and she shall have the best clothes that money can
buy! And when she's dressed as she ought to be, she will look young
and handsome!"

And so, as they sat alone, he told the story of the past few years.
Told of his struggles, of his fightings, and of his failures and
successes, and how, little by little, he had obtained an education.
Then he described the strike in the town, and the trial which ended in
his imprisonment, and of his homecoming and his business life, and then
of the election.

"But you'll win yet, Paul!" And her eyes flashed eagerly as she spoke.
"My boy, you'll win yet!"

"Yes, I believe I shall win yet," he said. "Ay, I will, I must!"

"And what kind of a man is this Bolitho?" she asked. And Paul told
her. He described the long duel he had had, and how up to the present
Mr. Bolitho was the victor.

"And he's the Member of Parliament now?" said his mother.

"Yes," he replied. "He's Member of Parliament now."

"But never mind," was her reply. "It's coming, Paul. It's coming!"
And then, looking straight into his eyes, she said, "You've not told me
all yet, my lad."

"What can there be more to tell?" he said.

"Ay, Paul. I'm a woman, I'm a woman, and I know how laddies feel.
There's a lass somewhere. Tell me about her. Nay, I'm not jealous. I
know it must be so, it ought to be so, because each lad must have his
lass. Only tell me about her!"

"It's a poor story, mother," he said. "And I think I hate my lassie as
much as I love her. And I've scarcely ever spoken to her. Besides----"

"Besides what, Paul?"

"Well, you see," he replied, "she's the daughter of Mr. Bolitho, the
man who's worsted me in everything. It was he who sent me to
Strangeways Gaol. It was he who blackened my name. It was he who beat
me in the fight! And I love her and hate her at the same time!"

There was a silence for some time and Paul saw that her face was dark
with anger.

"And have you ever spoken to her?" she asked. "Does she know what you
feel? Forgive me for asking, Paul, but I've been thinking about all
these things through the years, and wondering about them down there