"I will do it," said he. "I will do what lies in my power to bring the father and son together. I will talk to my father, and if he is willing I will borrow Master Felton's pony and set out without delay." CHAPTER XVI. JACK'S ERRAND. "Is my father up, Simon?" asked Jack, as he entered the shop, which the journeyman was just putting to rights. "I think not, Master Jack. I have not heard him stirring, and he usually calls me to come truss his points for him." "I will myself go up and help him to dress," said Jack, and he went softly up-stairs to his father's room. Master Lucas was just awake. "So you have come home betimes," said he, rubbing his eyes. "You have had a long watch and will be for taking a good nap, I dare say, though you do not look very sleepy either," he added, looking in his son's face. "You seem as if you had heard some good news." "And so I trust I have," said Jack. "I want to consult you, dear father, about a matter of moment." "Give me my gown, then," said his father. "It is time I was up. Now let me hear the story." Jack sat down on the side of the bed, and told his father of the discovery he supposed himself to have made, with the grounds of his belief. Master Lucas listened with attention. "But supposing this young man to be the heir of Holford," said he, "do you think his father would receive him again?" "I have good grounds for thinking so, which you shall hear," said Jack, and he repeated his reasons, which we already know. "Poor gentleman! My heart aches for him," said Master Lucas. "But what is it you propose to do? You cannot take Master Arthur to his home, weak as he is, even if he were quite willing to go." "No; and, therefore, I propose to bring his home to him," said Jack. "I propose to ride to Holford, see the knight, and tell him all that I have told you. Then he can act as he pleases." "Have you said aught of your intention to Master Arthur—or Paul, as he calls himself?" "Not a word, dear father. I thought it best to be silent. Paul—his name is Paul as well as Arthur—Paul is in doubt as to his reception at home. He says he has brought shame and disgrace on his honorable house, and he knows not whether he ought to return—" "So had the youth Father William preached about yesterday, brought shame and disgrace on his family," interrupted the baker. "Yet he returned, and his father received him gladly." "And if the poor prodigal had been ill and starving, repentant, and longing above all things for a sight of his father's face, yet too weak and too fearful to go to him," said Jack, eagerly, "do you not think that he and his father both would have been thankful to that man who had brought them face to face, who had carried news to the father that the son was languishing, perhaps dying, within his reach? Make the case your own, dear father, and tell me."