He labored daily with the same faithfulness that had characterized his operations in the city, and, reaching Sevenoaks, he found himself for a few days free from care, and at liberty to resume the acquaintance with his early home, where he and Robert Belcher had been boys together.
The people of Sevenoaks had long before heard of the fall of Sam Yates from his early rectitude.

They had once been proud of him, and when he left them for the city, they expected to hear great things of him.

So when they learned that, after entering upon his profession with brilliant promise, he had ruined himself with drink, they bemoaned him for a while, and at last forgot him.

His relatives never mentioned him, and when, well dressed, dignified, self-respectful, he appeared among them again, it was like receiving one from the dead.

The rejoicing of his relatives, the cordiality of his old friends and companions, the reviving influences of the scenes of his boyhood, all tended to build up his self-respect, reinforce his strength, and fix his determinations for a new life.
Of course he did not make known his business, and of course he heard a thousand inquiries about Mr.Belcher, and listened to the stories of the proprietor's foul dealings with the people of his native town.