One day beside his mother’s letter was another.  He did not know the handwriting, but, looking eagerly to the end, he saw the name of Rose Gardiner.

“What would Rose say,” Ben asked himself, “if she knew that I am worth four thousand dollars?”

The money had been paid to Ben, and was deposited in four different savings banks, till he could decide on a better investment.  So he was quite sure of having more than enough to pay off the mortgage and redeem the cottage.

“Since mother is worrying, I must write and set her mind at rest,” he decided.

He wrote accordingly, telling his mother not to feel anxious, for he had wealthy friends, and he felt sure, with their help, of paying off the mortgage.  “But don’t tell anybody this,” he continued, “for I want to give the squire and Mr. Kirk a disagreeable surprise.  I shall come to Pentonville two days before, and may stay a week.”

He had already spoken to Mrs. Hamilton about having this week as a vacation.

CHAPTER XXXVII BEN’S VISIT TO PENTONVILLE

On the eighteenth of December Ben arrived in Pentonville.  It was his first visit since he went up to New York for good.  He reached home without observation, and found his mother overjoyed to see him.

“It has seemed a long, long time that you have been away, Ben,” she said.

“Yes, mother; but I did a good thing in going to New York.”

“You are looking well, Ben, and you have grown.”

“Yes, mother; and best of all, I have prospered.  Squire Davenport can’t have the house!”

“You don’t mean to say, Ben, that you have the money to pay it off?” asked his mother, with eager hope.

“Yes, mother; and, better still, the money is my own.”

“This can’t be true, Ben!” she said incredulously.

“Yes, but it is, though!  You are to ask me no questions until after the twentieth.  Then I will tell you all.”

“I am afraid I shall have to send you to the store, for I am out of groceries.”

A list was given, and Ben started for the store.

Mr. Kirk looked up in surprise as he entered.

“You’re the Barclay boy, ain’t you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I thought you were in New York.”

“I was, but I have just got home.”

“Couldn’t make it, go, hey?”

Ben smiled, but did not answer.

“I may give you something to do,” said Kirk, in a patronizing tone.  “You’ve been employed in this store, I believe.”

“Yes, I was here some months.”

“I’ll give you two dollars a week.”

“Thank you,” said Ben meekly, “but I shall have to take a little time to decide—­say the rest of the week.”

“I suppose you want to help your mother move?”

“She couldn’t move alone.”

“Very well; you can begin next Monday.”