”Where are you going, mother? Are you going to live here?“
”Of course I shall be with you. I will make that a condition. I cannot be parted from my only boy.“
”But I shall be Mr. Granville’s boy.“
”To the public you will be. But when we are together in private, we shall be once more mother and son.“
”I am afraid you will spoil all,“ said Jonas. ”Old Granville will suspect something if you seem to care too much for me.“
The selfish nature of Jonas was cropping out, and his mother felt, with a pang, that he would be reconciled to part with her forever for the sake of the brilliant prospects and the large fortune which Mr. Granville could offer him.
She was outwardly cold, but such affection as she was capable of she expended on this graceless and ungrateful boy.
”You seem to forget that I may have some feeling in the matter,“ said Mrs. Brent coldly, but with inward pain. ”If the result of this plan were to be that we should be permanently separated, I would never consent to it.“
”Just as you like, mother,“ said Jonas, with an ill grace. ”I don’t look much like Phil.“
”No, there will be a difficulty. Still Mr. Granville has never seen Philip since he was three years old, and that is in our favor. He thinks I am Mr. Brent’s first wife.“
”Shall you tell him?“
”I don’t know. I will be guided by circumstances. Perhaps it may be best. I wouldn’t like to have it discovered that I had deceived him in that.“
”How are you going to manage about this place, mother?“
”I am going to write to your Uncle Jonas to take charge of it. I will let him have it at a nominal rent. Then, if our plan miscarries we shall have a place to come back to.“
”Were you ever in Philadelphia, mother?“
”No; but there will be no trouble in journeying there. I shall pack your clothes and my own to- night. Of course, Jonas, when you meet Mr. Granville you must seem to be fond of him. Then you must tell him how kind I have been to you. In fact, you must act precisely as Philip might be expected to do.“
”Yes, mother; and you must be careful not to call me Jonas. That will spoil all, you know.“
”Rest assured that I shall be on my guard. If you are as careful as I am, Philip—-“
Jonas burst into a guffaw at the new name.
”It’s just like play-acting, mother,“ he said.
”But it will pay better,“ said Mrs. Brent quietly. ”I think it will be best for me to begin calling you Philip at once–that is, as soon as we have left town–so that we may both get accustomed to it.“
”All right, mother. You’ve got a good headpiece.“
”I will manage things properly. If you consent to be guided by me, all will be right.“
”Oh, I’ll do it mother. I wish we were on our way.“
”You can go to bed if you like. I must stay up late to-night. I have to pack our trunks.“
The next day the pair of adventurers left Gresham. From the earliest available point Mrs. Brent telegraphed to Mr. Granville that she was on her way, with the son from whom he had so long been separated.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE CONSPIRACY SUCCEEDS.
IN A HANDSOME private parlor at the Continental Hotel a man of about forty-five years of age sat in an easy-chair. He was of middle height, rather dark complexion, and a pleasant expression. His right foot was bandaged, and rested on a chair. The morning Daily Ledger was in his hand, but he was not reading. His mind, judging from his absorbed look, was occupied with other thoughts.
”I can hardly realize,“ he said half-aloud, ”that my boy will so soon be restored to my arms. We have been separated by a cruel fate, but we shall soon be together again. I remember how the dear child looked when I left him at Fultonville in the care of the kind inn-keeper. I am sorry he is dead, but his widow shall be suitably repaid for her kind devotion.“