nd then, sitting down on the
ground by his bed, opened the packet his mother had given him. The
outer cover was in her handwriting.

"My dearest boy:

"I have, as I told you, kept the enclosed packet, which is not to be
opened until I have certain news of your father's death. This news, I
trust, you will some day obtain. As you see, the enclosed packet is
directed to me. I do not think that you will find in it anything of
importance, to yourself. It probably contains only directions and
advice for my guidance, in case I should determine to return to
England. I have been the less anxious to open it, because I have been
convinced that it is so; for of course, I know the circumstances of his
family, and there could be nothing new that he could write to me on
that score.

"I have told you that he quarrelled with his father, because he chose
to marry me. As you have heard from me, I was the daughter of a
clergyman, and at his death took a post as governess. Your father fell
in love with me. He was the son of the Honorable James Hartley, who was
brother to the Earl of Langdale. Your father had an elder brother. Mr.
Hartley was a man of the type now, happily, less common than it was
twenty years ago. He had but a younger brother's portion, and a small
estate that had belonged to his mother; but he was as proud as if he
had been a peer of the realm, and owner of a county. I do not know
exactly what the law of England is--whether, at the death of his
brother, your grandfather would have inherited the title, or not. I
never talked on this subject with your father, who very seldom alluded
to matters at home. He had, also, two sisters.

"As he was clever, and had already gained some reputation by his
explorations in Egypt; and was, moreover, an exceptionally handsome
man--at least, I thought so--your grandfather made up his mind that he
would make a very good marriage. When he learned of your father's
affection for me, he was absolutely furious, told his son that he never
wished to see him again, and spoke of me in a manner that Gregory
resented; and as a result, they quarrelled.

"Your father left the house, never to enter it again. I would have
released him from his promise, but he would not hear of it, and we were
married. He had written for magazines and newspapers, on Egyptian
subjects, and thought that he could make a living for us both, with his
pen; but unhappily, he found that great numbers of men were trying to
do