He told me he supposed it
was all right, though over a thousand dollars was a large sum for a mere
boy to have, and manage himself."

I had almost concluded before to tell Mr. Solomons the whole truth in
regard to myself; and the trouble he had taken to satisfy himself of my
honesty, decided me to do so at the first convenient opportunity. I did
not bid Kate a final good-by when I left the house, for Mr. Loraine
promised to take her over to Jersey City, where the steamer lay, to "see
me off." On my way to the hotel, I visited the post-office, as I had
done every day since my arrival in the city. This time I found a letter
from Bob Hale, and I hastened to my room at the hotel to read it.

It was a long letter, full of warm and generous feeling towards me--it
was just like Bob. He informed me that my uncle was apparently as well
as usual; he had gone to the cottage, and inquired of old Betsey. There
had been a great deal of talk about my going off; but no one knew
anything about the real circumstances. Mrs. Loraine had taken pains to
"hush up" the facts in regard to Kate.

"When my father came home," wrote Bob, "I told him your story, as you
wished me to do. He shook his head, and said it was a foolish story, and
he feared you were a bad boy, after all. But when I showed him your
father's will, and he had read it, he caved in like an avalanche. He
told me he thought, from your uncle's singular life, that something
ailed him, and your story explained it perfectly. He was sorry you had
not come to him, instead of going away. I told him you wanted to find
your mother, and cared more for her than you did for the money. He
praised you then, and hoped you would find her. He put the will in his
safe, and you may be sure it will be forthcoming when you want it."

Bob related all the news about the fellows in Parkville, and wished me
to answer his letter immediately. I did so that night, giving him all
the incidents of my trip to New York, and the events which occurred
after my arrival, with my plans for the future. When I went to bed I
could not sleep, I was so excited by the fact that I was going to
England the next day. I trembled when I thought of my mother, and of
what might happen to prevent my finding her. I heard the clock on
Trinity Church strike three before I went to sleep.

It was eight o'clock when I awoke, and I was to be on board the steamer
at ten. I ate my breakfast, paid my bill, and left the hotel with my