I arose to my feet, trembling in every limb. "Tell me who you are! What is your name?" she exclaimed--becoming nearly as much excited as myself. I could no longer refrain from declaring myself; and I made answer:-- "I am the Rolling Stone." Had I been a small and weak man, I should have been crushed and suffocated by the embraces of my mother and sister--so demonstrative were they in their expressions of surprise and joy! As soon as our excitement had, to some extent, subsided; and we were able to converse a rational manner, I inquired after my brother William. "I left him apprenticed to a harness-maker in Liverpool," answered my mother. "But where is he now?" I asked; "that was long ago." My mother began to weep; and Martha made answer for her. "William ran away from his master; and we have never heard of him since." I requested to be informed what efforts had been made to find him. I was then told that my mother had written two or three times to the harness-maker; and from him had learnt that he had used every exertion, to discover the whereabouts of his runaway apprentice, but without success. It appeared that my mother never liked to hear any one speak of William: for she had some unpleasant regrets at having left him behind her in Liverpool. I consoled her, by saying that I had plenty of money, that William should be advertised for, and found; and that we should all again live happily together--as we had in years long gone by. In all my life I was never more happy than on that evening. The future was full of hope. It was true that much had yet to be done before my purposes could be fully accomplished. But a man with nothing to do, cannot be contented. We must ever have something to attain, or life is not worth the having. I had yet something to live for. I had still a task to perform that might require much time and toil. I had yet to win Lenore! Volume Two, Chapter XVI. MYSTIFIED BY MARTHA. The next day I had a long conversation with my mother--as to what we should do in the future. It resulted in my proposing, that we should return immediately to Liverpool. "No! no!" protested she, with an eagerness that astonished me; "I cannot think of that. I must wait for the return of my husband." "Your husband!" "Yes! yes! Mr Leary. He has gone to California; but I have reason to believe that he will soon be back." "Now that you have spoken of _him_," said I, "please to tell me all about him; and how he has used you since I left home." "He has always been very kind to me," she answered, "very kind indeed. He has gone to the diggings in California, where I have no doubt but what he will do well, and come back with plenty of money." "But I was told in Dublin that he deserted you there," said I. "Was that very kind indeed?" "It is true; he did leave me there; but the business was doing badly, and he couldn't help going. I have no doubt but what he was sorry for it afterwards."