see him. Mr. Low had answered this letter
as a brother should do; and every year since, they had written to each
other, and sent each other presents. But this morning a letter had come
from Mr. John Low, entreating his brother to come to him, if possible,
and to bring his family; stating that he had a disease upon him that
must soon finish his life; and telling him that he had engaged the
captain of the _Dory_, who brought the letter, to take him and his
family back with him to America, he having undertaken to pay all the
costs. The letter finished with the most earnest entreaties that they
would all come.

"With Mr. John Low's letter came another from Captain Lewis, of the
_Dory_, saying he should go back in less than a fortnight, and pressing
Mr. Low to attend to his brother's request; adding that he almost
feared that his friend, Mr. John Low, would hardly be found alive when
they reached New York.

"Mr. and Mrs. Low were talking over this letter, and forming their
plans about it, when their children saw them walking so gravely in the
wood. They had come to the resolution to go with Captain Lewis, and
they had a long discourse about Bernard. They resolved at once to take
Lucilla with them; they wished her to see her uncle, and to see the New
World, and her company would be pleasant to them; but they had many
doubts about Bernard. Mr. Low was quite against taking him, and he took
this occasion to tell his wife that they had both been to blame in
spoiling him as they had done, and that he considered his present
ill-behaviour as a punishment which he himself deserved, for having
suffered his boy to be so spoiled.

"Mrs. Low had not much to say; she thought her husband was right.

"Now, had Bernard listened to Lucilla, and had he come just at that
minute before his parents and begged pardon for his ill-behaviour, he
might have changed his father's determination--for fathers are very
forgiving--and then his mother, too, would have been on his side; and
so he might have got the pleasure of going that long journey into the
New World.

"Everything was settled after Mr. Low had made up his mind, even before
Bernard returned; for Stephen was going a long walk to see Meekin's
father, who was a farmer in the next parish, and Bernard went with him.
Stephen would not take him, however, till he had come back to where
Lucilla was, to ask her if she thought Mr. Low would be pleased if he
took him.

"Stephen could speak very