This thought seemed to a little depress him; not that he had any right to expect anything else, seeing that he had neglected her in a most heartless manner. He reflected for some little time, and then said—
“I shall have to go over to Bradford, I expect—that’s what I shall have to do. Bessie’s a sharp clever girl, and I mustn’t lose sight of her. A plague upon that drunken brute, Bristow! Had it not been for him I should not have had occasion to leave Bradford.”
His soliloquy was brought to a close by a female addressing him by his Christian name.
It was his mother, who, with all his faults, regarded him with a glance of fond affection.
“Well, Charlie, you rover, now I have found you I don’t intend to let you go,” said the old lady, playfully. “You must come along with me.”
“Where to?”
“Where do you suppose? You must come home. Surely you can spare your poor mother a little of your company?”
“All right, then; homewards we will go,” cried Peace, leading the way in the direction of his parent’s house.