Institute. We have more than a thousand students there.
They all come of an evening, after work, and they pay next to nothing
for their lessons; but I've known lots of them who have got on so well
that they have been able to go to Owens College at Manchester--even
taken degrees. And there is no end to the possibilities for the chap
who has taken a degree."
Paul had only a vague idea of what this might mean, but he knew it
meant something of importance, and his heart beat quickly at the
thought of it. Still, the idea of Lancashire did not appeal to him.
He felt sure that Douglas Graham would be in London, and, after all,
London was the great heart of things. It was there all these big men
went, and it was there, he felt sure, his work lay. Nevertheless, he
went on asking Wadge many questions about life in the big towns of
Lancashire, and more and more became enamoured by the thought of going
there.
"Look here," continued Wadge presently, "I have got a copy of the
_Brunford Mercury_ where I am staying, and I'll lend it you. You can
see then what's going on."
A few hours later Paul was perusing the journal he had been promised.
At first he was disappointed. After all, there did not seem to be
anything much more attractive going on in Brunford than in Cornwall.
The _West Briton_ was, as far as he could see, a more interesting
paper. Presently, however, his heart gave a leap. He saw that a law
case of some sort had been going on in Manchester, and as the counsel
for one of the parties, he saw the name of "G. D. Graham." At first he
could scarcely believe his own eyes. He did not realise that there
might be hundreds of Grahams, many of whom might be barristers. With
his small parochial ideas, there could be only one Graham who could
occupy such a position--and Manchester was only a few miles from
Brunford. Of course all the barristers could not live in London.
There must be many all over the country, and Graham lived there. A
strange feeling filled his heart; he felt sure he had found his father,
the man who had wronged his mother, who had blighted her life. Again
the picture of her as he saw her last flashed back to his mind, the
care-worn, tired, sad-looking woman whom he loved as his mother; and
she was going back to servitude, to misery, and all this because of the
man who had deceived her, ruined her life. He had taken her as his
wife, and then written her that cruel, insulting letter, and left her
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