e all
my life."

They had scarcely reached the hotel where Mr. Porson, the doctor, and
Charlie were stopping, when Mr. Simmonds arrived.

"I have come to congratulate you, my boy," he said, shaking hands
with Ned. "I can see that at present the verdict does not give so much
satisfaction to you as to your friends, but that is natural enough. You
have been unjustly accused and have had a very hard time of it, and you
are naturally not disposed to look at matters in a cheerful light; but
this gives us time, my boy, and time is everything. It is hard for you
that your innocence has not been fully demonstrated, but you have your
life before you, and we must hope that some day you will be triumphantly
vindicated."

"That is what I shall live for in future," Ned said. "Of course now, Mr.
Simmonds, there is an end of all idea of my going into the army. A man
suspected of a murder, even if they have failed to bring it home to him,
cannot ask for a commission in the army. I know there's an end to all
that."

"No," Mr. Simmonds agreed hesitatingly, "I fear that for the present
that plan had better remain in abeyance; we can take it up again later
on when this matter is put straight."

"That may be never," Ned said decidedly, "so we need say no more about
it."

"And now, my boy," Mr. Porson said, "try and eat some lunch. I have
just ordered a post chaise to be round at the door in half an hour. The
sooner we start the better. The fresh air and the change will do you
good, and we shall have plenty of time to talk on the road."

CHAPTER XVI: LUKE MARNER'S SACRIFICE

Not until they had left York behind them did Ned ask after his mother.
He knew that if there had been anything pleasant to tell about her he
would have heard it at once, and the silence of his friends warned him
that the subject was not an agreeable one.

"How is my mother?" he asked at last abruptly.

"Well, Ned," Dr. Green replied, "I have been expecting your question,
and I am sorry to say that I have nothing agreeable to tell you."

"That I was sure of," Ned said with a hard laugh. "As I have received no
message from her from the day I was arrested I guessed pretty well that
whatever doubt other people might feel, my mother was positive that I
had murdered her husband."

"The fact is, Ned," Dr. Green said cautiously, "your mother is not at
present quite accountable for her opinions. The shock which she has
undergone has, I think, unhinged her m