“She will be here directly, then,” he remarked, and seating himself the Doctor waited the arrival of Elsy.

“Come here my little man,” said Harry, who had been sitting on the bed during the dialogue between the old slave and her master.

The child walked up to him and placed his arms on Harry’s knees.

“What is your name,” enquired the young man, lifting the child up on his knees.

“My name is Alf,” he replied.

“Alf what?” asked Harry.

The child looked at him enquiringly, not understanding the question.

“What is your mother’s name,” continued Harry, perceiving that the boy was unable to answer his question.

“My ma’s name is Eva,” he answered.

“And your sister’s?” asked Harry.

“My sister is named Ella,” replied the child, and then added, mournfully, “but she is gone from here; they took her out in a little box and put her in the ground, and Granny says she is gone to heaven; and my ma,” he continued, “some bad men carried away, but Granny says she will soon come back—­wont she?” and his innocent face looked up confidingly in Harry’s.

“Yes, my boy,” he answered, “your ma will soon come back to you.”

“There appears no doubt of the identity of this family,” remarked Harry to Dr. Humphries, after a short pause, “everything we have yet discovered indicates that Alfred Wentworth’s wife and children have passed a fearful life since their expulsion from New Orleans.”

“Poor woman and children,” observed the Doctor, dashing away a tear, “could I have known their penury, I should have been only glad to relieve them, and even now, it is not too late for us to benefit this child and his mother.  As soon as Elsy arrives here I shall remove the boy to my house and visit the mother in jail.”

“I do not think it advisable to move the child until you have succeeded in obtaining the release of Mrs. Wentworth,” answered Harry.  “His father may chance to see him, and, under the circumstances, would discover where his wife was; which discovery I desire to avoid as long as possible.  The best thing that you can do is to leave the boy here for twenty-four hours longer, by which time bail can be procured for his mother, and I shall endeavor to silence the charge, so that there may be no necessity for a trial.”

“May not Mr. Wentworth see the child and recognise him before we have accomplished his mother’s release,” enquired the Doctor.

“I do not think it likely,” he replied, “Alfred will not visit so remote a vicinity, and the child need not be carried into the business portion of the city.”

“I shall leave him here, then, as you think it advisable,” remarked the Doctor; “it cannot injure him to remain in this cabin for a day longer, while it might lead to unpleasant discoveries should he be removed.”

Harry and the old gentleman remained silent for some time, when Elsy entered the room.  No sooner did the girl see the boy than she recognized her master’s child, and taking him in her arms caressed him with all the exhibitions of affection the negro is capable of.