He slept until nearly nine o'clock, and when he came downstairs he found, to his delight, a heap of congratulatory messages lying upon the table. After all, it was delightful to be a victor, delightful to have won in the battle of life! He noticed, too, that his mother had become like her old self again. She spoke in her natural voice, and made no reference whatever to what had taken place the night before.
"I shall have to go to London, to-day or to-morrow, mother," he said. "I hope you won't be lonely while I'm away."
"Oh, never fear for me, Paul, my son!" she replied. "I shall be all right."
"I do not like the idea of your being alone, though," said Paul. "And I shall have to be away from Brunford a great deal when Parliament meets. I think I shall have to take you to London with me!"
"No," she replied. "I would rather stay here. I should only be in your way if I went to London, besides increasing your expenses--and that I must not do."
"Why not, mother? I can afford it very well. We're having a specially good run of luck just now, and the extra expense would not bother me at all. Besides, I want you to be near me!"
"No, Paul. I would rather remain in Brunford. I have my work to do."
She did not reply, and Paul could not understand the look on her face.
"Tell me, mother," he said, "what do you mean by having your work to do?"
"There's only one work for me now, Paul--only one thing I care about--and that is to give you your rightful name, and to make you happy!"
"I have thought lately he's dead," said Paul.
"No," she replied, "he is not dead. I feel it in every fibre of my body. He is not dead! And I am going to find him. And I must not leave Brunford--something has told me I must not. And I must watch Wilson, too."
"I have been thinking about that, mother," he said; "and, after all, it's not so bad. The man was drunk, or he would not have said such a thing!"
"Drunk or sober," was her reply, "he shall pay for those words. But do not trouble, Paul. You shall be happy. And you shall have your rightful name, in spite of everything."