Presently, the surgeon looked in. He was a kind-hearted man, and knew their story. He said softly, "When the boy wakes I have some news for him that will do him more good than I can."
Harry, who was just waking, started and exclaimed, "What news? tell me this minute! is the money found?"
"Come, Mr. Gunpowder, keep quiet, if you please, or you'll not hear any thing from me."
"Yes, yes; I am as quiet as a lamb, only be quick. Tell me the news."
"Well, here are two letters that a great six foot chap has brought, not for your lambship, Mr. Harry, but for your good mother, who takes things like a rational being."
He gave the letters to the mother and left the tent, saying with a smile, "Don't be too happy."
The letter from the postmaster was to ask Harry's pardon for the injustice, and to offer the place in the office. "There is no one," it concluded, "I could trust as I can you."
The other was from George, as follows:—
"DEAR MR. BROWN: My neglect of my duty in directing a letter was the real cause of the suspicion that fell upon you. I can never forgive myself. I can hardly hope you can forgive me. If you will be generous enough to try to do so, you will make me less unhappy. If you accept the sum I enclose you to meet the expenses of your journey, I shall be less miserable. By taking it you will prove that you pity and forgive me,—the unintentional cause of so much evil to you and your excellent mother." George enclosed a check for five hundred dollars, all he had saved from his earnings as a clerk for the two years past.
"Thank Heaven, my innocence is proved!" said the honest fellow. "But, Mother, I don't want the money."