urned up the
electric light, and saw that his mother's boots were placed ready for
cleaning. They were covered with mud. Evidently she had had a long
tramp.

"At any rate, she has returned," he said to himself. He went into all
the downstairs rooms, but she was nowhere visible. Then he climbed the
stairs again, and stood at his mother's bedroom door. He opened it and
went in. The bed had not been used at all, but sitting in an armchair,
just under the electric light, was his mother, her face buried in her
hands.

"Mother," he said, "where have you been?"

She took no notice; perhaps she did not hear him. He came up to her
side and touched her, upon which she started to her feet. "Mother," he
repeated, "where have you been?" And he could not help noticing a kind
of unholy triumph in her face. "Why are you not in bed?" he asked.
"It is six o'clock in the morning, and your bed has not been slept on."

"It's all right, Paul," she said. "It's all right. Never mind; you
needn't fear. I've found out something. I've done something!"

"Found out something! Done something! What?"

"I am not going to tell you," she said, and the look on her face
frightened him. It might be that some long-desired thing had been
given to her--some great object attained, some unholy desire gratified.
For the look on her face was not one that a man loves to see in the
face of his mother.

"All you hoped for shall come to pass, Paul. Yes, all--all, my boy;
don't be afraid. I've done it!"

Her words sounded like a knell in his soul. It seemed to him that they
had a dark, ominous meaning. He was not a nervous man, rather he was
strong, determined, not easily moved; but it seemed as though something
had gripped him, and he was afraid.

"I never dreamt when I went out," she said, "that I should do such a
good night's work--never dreamt that everything would come so easily."
And then she laughed.

"Tell me what you mean, mother."

"No, Paul, nothing. But you'll have a surprise--yes, you'll have a
surprise!"

She might have been mad. Her face was strange, her words were strange,
the look on her face was such as he had never seen before.

"Go to bed," she said. "Go to bed quickly. The maids will be up soon,
and they must suspect nothing. Sleep in peace, my boy; your debts
shall be paid, paid to the utmost farthing!"

He stooped to kiss her, and she threw her arms wildly round his neck.
"Oh, my lad, my lad!" she sai