“You are right, I confess,” answered Wenlock. “But tell me, how is she? Where is she? Would I could once more see her and explain my conduct.”
“Perchance thou mayst see her sooner than thou dost expect,” said Mead. “Come to-morrow morning to the house where we lodge, and we will talk further of this matter.”
“What! is she in Rotterdam?” exclaimed Wenlock, in a voice trembling with agitation.
“She accompanied us thus far on our journey; but I know not whether she will go farther. I must not let thee see her, however, to-night, as, believing thee dead, it might perchance somewhat agitate her; for I do not deny, Wenlock, that thou wast once dear to us all. But whether thou canst sufficiently explain thy conduct since thou didst part from us, to regain thy lost place in our regard, I cannot now determine.”
“Oh, I trust I can,” exclaimed Wenlock, all his affection for Mary reviving immediately at the thought of again meeting her.
William Penn received the young man very kindly, and then for some minutes spoke to him with deep seriousness of his past life. “Thou canst not serve God and Mammon, Friend Wenlock,” he said. “Thou didst attempt to do so, and Mammon left thee struggling for thy life on the ocean. More on that matter I need not say.”
Wenlock, on reaching home, found that his friends had been deeply impressed by the addresses they had heard. They were also much surprised to find that two of the speakers were known to him.
“Indeed, one of them,” he said, “is a very old friend; and should he invite me to accompany him to England, I should wish to do so.”
“What! and leave us all here, not to return?” said Gretchen.
“It is right that I should tell the truth at once,” thought Wenlock. He did so.