Yes, there his father and mother were, waiting for him. But what was the meaning of the crowd? No sooner did he set foot on the platform than a great cheer arose. "There he is! There's Tom Pollard!" "Gi't tongue, lads! Gi't tongue! Hip! hip! hip! hoorah!" Tom, heedless of the cheering and shouting, went straight to his mother. For a second this lady looked at him, and seemed to be on the point of greeting him with a caustic remark; then her mother's heart melted. "Ay, Tom, I'm fair glad to see thee," she sobbed. "And I am glad to see you, mother. Ay, father, it is good to see you, it is." "And I am fair proud on you, Tom," and Ezekiel Pollard's voice was hoarse as he shook his son's hand. "But, Tom," cried Mrs. Pollard, wiping her eyes, "thy clothes be dirty; I shall have a rare job to get th' muck out of 'em." This was followed by a general laugh by those who had come to greet Tom and bid him welcome. "Ay, and thou look'st as though thou hasn't weshed for a week. I thought as aa' sodjers kept theirsens clean." "I'll wash right enough when I get home, mother," laughed Tom. "Holloa, Tom. I am glad to see you," and Polly Powell made her way through the crowd. "Thank you," replied Tom quietly; "have you brought one of your young men with you, Polly?" "I have not got any young men," was Polly's reply. Whereupon there was a general laugh of incredulity. Polly, heedless of the crowd, and although angered at the remarks that were made, still held her ground. "You are coming down to the Thorn and Thistle, aren't you, Tom?" she said; "mother and father are expecting you." "No, thank you, Polly," said Tom. "I am going home with my mother and father. Besides, I don't want to play gooseberry." At this there was general cheering. It was evident that Polly Powell was ready to give up her latest lover in order that the glory of Tom's lustre might shine upon her; but her power over him had gone. "Nay, thou'lt come down to the Rose and Crown wi' us, won't 'a'?" cried another. "No, I am not going to the Rose and Crown," replied Tom. "Nay, you doan't mean to say you've turned teetotaler?" "Ay, that I have," replied the lad, "you see I'm following the example of the King." Whereupon Polly went away abashed. All the way Tom's progress down Liverpool Road was a great procession of people. On every hand he was greeted and cheered. Other soldiers who had gone out from Brunford had returned; some had been wounded, and many had done brave deeds, but Tom's action had laid hold of the imagination of the people. To discover a German spy in Waterman, whom many in the town knew; to bring him to justice; to risk his life in order to render his country a service; to face almost certain death that he might obtain the plans which had been intended to help the enemy, made him a hero.