ed for many days. As soon as this revenge had been taken, Rushbrook,
who had long made up his mind so to do, packed up and quitted the
village, no one knowing whither he and Jane went; and Furness, who had
lost all means of subsistence, did the same in a very few days
afterwards, his place of retreat being equally unknown.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

IN WHICH WE AGAIN FOLLOW UP OUR HERO'S DESTINY.

After the resolution that Major McShane came to, it is not to be
surprised that he made, during the journey home, every inquiry of Joey
relative to his former life. To these Joey gave him a very honest reply
in everything except that portion of his history in which his father was
so seriously implicated; he had the feeling that he was bound in honour
not to reveal the circumstances connected with the murder of the pedlar.
McShane was satisfied, and they arrived in London without further
adventure. As soon as McShane had been embraced by his wife, he gave a
narrative of his adventures, and did not forget to praise little Joey as
he deserved. Mrs McShane was all gratitude, and then it was that
McShane expressed his intentions towards our hero, and, as he expected,
he found his amiable wife wholly coincide with him in opinion. It was
therefore decided that Joey should be put to a school, and be properly
educated, as soon as an establishment that was eligible could be found.

Their full intentions towards him, however, were not communicated to our
hero; he was told that he was to go to school, and he willingly
submitted: it was not, however, for three months that McShane would part
with him: a difficulty was raised against every establishment that was
named. During this time little Joey was very idle, for there was
nothing for him to do. Books there were none, for Mrs McShane had no
time to read, and Major McShane no inclination. His only resort was to
rummage over the newspapers which were taken in for the benefit of the
customers, and this was his usual employment. One day, in turning over
the file, he came to the account of the murder of the pedlar, with the
report of the coroner's inquest. He read all the evidence, particularly
that of Furness, the schoolmaster, and found that the verdict was wilful
murder, with a reward of 200 pounds for his apprehension. The term,
wilful murder, he did not exactly comprehend; so, after laying down the
paper, with a beating heart he went to Mrs McShane, and asked her what
was the mea