The cripple listened to it all with greater composure than Mrs. Holl did. Only when Prescott described the emotion of Captain Bradshaw did he appear affected. “It is a strange story, sir,” he said when Prescott had finished, “and I am very glad to hear my poor mother was forgiven. For myself, sir, it makes but little difference. I am not like other men; still it will be a pleasure to me to be able to have what books I like, and to see for the first time the world. After what you have told me of my grandfather, I shall be glad if only for his sake. Had he been a cold, proud man, who would have been ashamed of his cripple relative, I would have remained here, where all have been so kind to me. My real father and mother are here.” “Don’t think of us, James,” Mrs. Holl said, crying; “John and me will be only too glad to know you have doctors and comforts, and change of air, such as we could not give you. No, don’t you worry yourself about us, James.” “Your grandfather is waiting outside, James, with his niece. May they come in?” It was a touching scene when Captain Bradshaw entered. He paused at the door, and looked wistfully at the pale figure in his quaint chair. Then he came forward and took the lad’s thin hand in his. “My poor boy, my poor boy!” he said; “my Laura’s child. To think you should have been all these years so near to me, and that I should never have dreamt of your existence, James. I have to ask your pardon, it is too late to ask hers now, for the past. I would have atoned it to her, but I could not; let me atone it to you.” “Poor grandfather!” the lad said; “it has been hard on you, too, all these years—harder than on me. You could not find a child again—I found another mother.” “Yes, indeed,” the old man said, and turning to Mrs. Holl, who was standing by crying audibly, “You good woman. How can I thank you; what can I say to you in my dead child’s name and in my own? But Mrs. Holl, you and your husband will surely have your reward. You know the words, ‘I was naked, and ye clothed me; sick, and ye visited me; hungry, and ye took me in.’ God will bless you. No thanks I can give you can repay you as your own good conscience must do. I never can repay you, and yet, Mrs. Holl, in some way or other you shall find Harry Bradshaw is not ungrateful.” “Don’t talk of it, sir,” Mrs. Holl sobbed. “Me and John only did our duty, and it was a real pleasure, too, for James has always been a happiness and a comfort to us. ’Cept as to his accident, he has never caused us a sore moment.” “And now, Mrs. Holl, you will spare him to me?” the old man said. “You have, I hear, other children; she was my only one. My claim is as nothing to yours, but for his own sake you will let him go?” “Lor, yes, sir, and glad to know he is with his own people, and well cared for. But you will let us come to see him sometimes?”