at more composure, "leave me, dear friends,
I entreat, for a few minutes to collect my scattered thoughts--to
prepare myself for what I have to go through--to pray for my son."

"Shall we do so?" whispered Winifred to her father.

"By all means," returned Wood; "don't delay an instant." And, followed
by the young couple, who gazed wistfully at the poor sufferer, he
hastily quitted the room, and locked the door after him.

Mrs. Sheppard was no sooner alone than she fell upon her knees by the
side of the couch, and poured forth her heart in prayer. So absorbed was
she by her passionate supplications that she was insensible to anything
passing around her, until she felt a touch upon her shoulder, and heard
a well-known voice breathe in her ear--"Mother!"

She started at the sound as if an apparition had called her, screamed,
and fell into her son's outstretched arms. "Mother! dear mother!" cried
Jack, folding her to his breast.

"My son! my dear, dear son!" returned Mrs. Sheppard, returning his
embrace with all a parent's tenderness.

Jack was completely overcome. His chest heaved violently, and big tears
coursed rapidly down his cheeks.

"I don't deserve it," he said, at length; "but I would have risked a
thousand deaths to enjoy this moment's happiness."

"And you must have risked much to obtain it, my love. I have scarcely
recovered from the shock of hearing of your condemnation, when I behold
you free!"

"Not two hours since," rejoined Jack, "I was chained down in the
Condemned Hold in Newgate. With a small saw, conveyed to me a few days
since by Thames Darrell, which I contrived to conceal upon my person, I
removed a spike in the hatch, and, with the aid of some other friends,
worked my way out. Having heard from Thames that you were better, and
that your sole anxiety was about me, I came to give you the _first_
intelligence of my escape."

"Bless you for it. But you will stay here?"

"I dare not. I must provide for my safety."

"Mr. Wood will protect you," urged Mrs. Sheppard.

"He has not the power--perhaps not the will to do so. And if he would,
_I_ would not subject him to the annoyance. The moment my escape is
known, a large reward will be placed on my head. My dress, my person
will be minutely described. Jonathan Wild and his bloodhounds, with a
hundred others, incited by the reward, will be upon my track. Nay, for
aught I know, some of them may even now have got scent of me."

"You terrify me,"