The gentleman noticed at a glance that the lady was dressed in deep mourning; and he inquired, rather abruptly, "Have you heard nothing from your son who sailed with him?"
Every particle of color vanished from the lady's face, and Mr. Greyson, who approached quickly to her side, answered,
"Alas! Nothing."
"Can you bear good news, my friends?" Before either of them could reply, the door softly opened, and Frank, who thought he had been left alone for an hour, burst into the room and rushed into his mother's arms.
It was as the gentleman had feared. Such an excess of joy overpowered her senses; and she would have fallen to the floor but for the aid of her husband and son. It was not long, however, that she lay unconscious. She opened her eyes to the happy conviction that "He whom we mourned as dead is alive again; he that was lost is found."
No such emotions of pleasure existed in the breast of Alfred at the idea of returning to his native land and visiting his mother, whom he had left in her hour of bitterest woe. His vices had effectually weaned him from kindred and home. When he went on shore, he bent his steps to that house which Solomon has described as the house of death.
Two days later Captain Monroe met him staggering along the streets in company with two drunken fellows, with a pipe in his mouth, and a terrible oath upon his lip.
The good man remonstrated kindly with him upon his wicked course, which he assured him would lead to swift destruction.
Alfred hung down his head, but made no reply.
"Are you going to sea again?" asked the gentleman.