Summoned by Charles, Mrs. Abercrombie came down to the parlor. She was merely told that a gentleman desired to see her. When she entered the parlor, Ben rose from his seat. She looked at him for a moment, and her face lighted up. "It's Ben," she said. "O Ben, how could you stay away so long?" "What, do you remember me, Mary?" asked our hero, in surprise. "Yes. I knew you by your resemblance to Charles. We always remarked it when you were young boys together." As the two boys were standing side by side, the resemblance of which she spoke was quite striking. Ben was the larger of the two; but their features were similar, as well as the color of the hair and eyes, and the similarity of their dress completed the illusion. Mrs. Abercrombie surveyed her brother with satisfaction. She had been afraid he would be coarse and vulgar after so many years of neglect, if he should ever return; but here he was, to all appearance, a young gentleman of whom she need not feel ashamed. "Ben must share my room, Cousin Mary," said Charles. "We've got so much to say to each other." "I didn't know I was to stay," said Ben, smiling. "You mustn't leave us again, Ben," said his sister. "Monday you must start for home. Poor mother has mourned for you so long. She will be overjoyed to see you again." When Mr. Abercrombie came home, his new brother-in-law was introduced to him. He received Ben cordially, and in a way to make him feel at home. In the course of the morning Mr. Sampson called, and Ben was introduced to him. "There's something in your brother's voice that sounds familiar," he said to Mrs. Abercrombie. "I think I must have met him before." "He has not been with us for some years," said Mrs. Abercrombie, who did not care to reveal that Ben was a returned prodigal. "Probably I am deceived," said Mr. Sampson. Ben, however, knew that Mr. Sampson had good cause to remember him. He was afraid the servant who had brought him his breakfast some months before in the basement might remember him; but there was no danger of that. She never dreamed of associating the young gentleman, her mistress's brother, with the ragged and dirty boy who had brought the valise for Master Charles. CHAPTER XXVI. THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN. On Sunday evening, Ben, in company with his sister, her husband, and Charles, attended a sacred concert in Steinway Hall. As he stepped within the vestibule, he saw two street boys outside, whom he knew well. Their attire was very similar to that which he had himself worn until the day before. They looked at Ben, but never thought of identifying him with the baggage-smasher with whom they had often bunked together. "See what it is," thought Ben, "to be well dressed and have fashionable friends."