the corner of a garden wall, he came upon his former place of
imprisonment. Some rustic hand had written upon the door "JACK
SHEPPARD'S CAGE;" and upon the wall was affixed a large placard
describing his person, and offering a reward for his capture. Muffling
up his face, Jack turned away; but he had not proceeded many steps when
he heard a man reading aloud an account of his escapes from a newspaper.

Hastening to the church, he entered it by the very door near which his
first crime had been committed. His mother's scream seemed again to ring
in his ears, and he was so deeply affected that, fearful of exciting
attention, he was about to quit the sacred edifice, when he was stopped
by the entrance of Thames, who looked pale as death, with Winifred
leaning on his arm. They were followed by Mr. Wood in the deepest
mourning.

Shrinking involuntarily back into the farthest corner of the seat, Jack
buried his face in his hands. The service began. Jack who had not been
in a place of worship for many years was powerfully affected.
Accidentally raising his eyes, he saw that he was perceived by the
family from Dollis Hill, and that he was an object of the deepest
interest to them.

As soon as the service was over, Thames contrived to approach him, and
whispered, "Be cautious,--the funeral will take place after evening
service."

Jack would not hazard a glance at Winifred; but, quitting the church,
got into an adjoining meadow, and watched the party slowly ascending the
road leading to Dollis Hill. At a turn in the road, he perceived
Winifred looking anxiously towards him, and when she discovered him, she
waved her hand.

Returning to the churchyard, he walked round it; and on the western
side, near a small yew-tree discovered a new-made grave.

"Whose grave is this?" he inquired of a man who was standing near it.

"I can't say," answered the fellow; "but I'll inquire from the sexton,
William Morgan. Here, Peter," he added to a curly-headed lad, who was
playing on one of the grassy tombs, "ask your father to step this way."

The little urchin set off, and presently returned with the sexton.

"It's Mrs. Sheppard's grave,--the mother of the famous housebreaker,"
said Morgan, in answer to Jack's inquiry;--"and it's well they let her
have Christian burial after all--for they say she destroyed herself for
her son. The crowner's 'quest sat on her yesterday--and if she hadn't
been proved out of her mind, she would have been bu