"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.