“Shall we do so?” whispered Winifred to her father.

“By all means,” returned Wood; “don’t delay an instant.”  And, followed by the young couple, who gazed wistfully at the poor sufferer, he hastily quitted the room, and locked the door after him.

Mrs. Sheppard was no sooner alone than she fell upon her knees by the side of the couch, and poured forth her heart in prayer.  So absorbed was she by her passionate supplications that she was insensible to anything passing around her, until she felt a touch upon her shoulder, and heard a well-known voice breathe in her ear—­“Mother!”

She started at the sound as if an apparition had called her, screamed, and fell into her son’s outstretched arms.  “Mother! dear mother!” cried Jack, folding her to his breast.

“My son! my dear, dear son!” returned Mrs. Sheppard, returning his embrace with all a parent’s tenderness.

Jack was completely overcome.  His chest heaved violently, and big tears coursed rapidly down his cheeks.

“I don’t deserve it,” he said, at length; “but I would have risked a thousand deaths to enjoy this moment’s happiness.”

“And you must have risked much to obtain it, my love.  I have scarcely recovered from the shock of hearing of your condemnation, when I behold you free!”

“Not two hours since,” rejoined Jack, “I was chained down in the Condemned Hold in Newgate.  With a small saw, conveyed to me a few days since by Thames Darrell, which I contrived to conceal upon my person, I removed a spike in the hatch, and, with the aid of some other friends, worked my way out.  Having heard from Thames that you were better, and that your sole anxiety was about me, I came to give you the first intelligence of my escape.”

“Bless you for it.  But you will stay here?”

“I dare not.  I must provide for my safety.”

“Mr. Wood will protect you,” urged Mrs. Sheppard.

“He has not the power—­perhaps not the will to do so.  And if he would, I would not subject him to the annoyance.  The moment my escape is known, a large reward will be placed on my head.  My dress, my person will be minutely described.  Jonathan Wild and his bloodhounds, with a hundred others, incited by the reward, will be upon my track.  Nay, for aught I know, some of them may even now have got scent of me.”

“You terrify me,” cried Mrs. Sheppard.  “Oh! if this is the case, do not stay an instant.  Fly! fly!”

“As soon as I can do so with safety, I will return, or send to you,” said Jack.

“Do not endanger yourself on my account,” rejoined his mother.  “I am quite easy now; receive my blessing, my dear son; and if we never meet again, rest assured my last prayer shall be for you.”

“Do not talk thus, dear mother,” returned Jack, gazing anxiously at her pale countenance, “or I shall not be able to quit you.  You must live for me.”

“I will try to do so,” replied the widow, forcing a smile.  “One last embrace.  I need not counsel you to avoid those fatal courses which have placed you in such fearful jeopardy.”