remains to him?" asked Mr Bradshaw. "He has
deceived me--he has offended God."

"Have we not all offended Him?" Mr Benson said, in a low tone.

"Not consciously. I never do wrong consciously. But
Richard--Richard." The remembrance of the undeceiving letters--the
forgery--filled up his heart so completely that he could not speak
for a minute or two. Yet when he saw Mr Benson on the point of saying
something, he broke in:

"It is no use talking, sir. You and I cannot agree on these subjects.
Once more, I desire you to prosecute that boy, who is no longer a
child of mine."

"Mr Bradshaw, I shall not prosecute him. I have said it once for all.
To-morrow you will be glad that I do not listen to you. I should only
do harm by saying more at present."

There is always something aggravating in being told, that the mood in
which we are now viewing things strongly will not be our mood at some
other time. It implies that our present feelings are blinding us, and
that some more clear-sighted spectator is able to distinguish our
future better than we do ourselves. The most shallow person dislikes
to be told that any one can gauge his depth. Mr Bradshaw was not
soothed by this last remark of Mr Benson's. He stooped down to take
up his hat and be gone. Mr Benson saw his dizzy way of groping, and
gave him what he sought for; but he received no word of thanks. Mr
Bradshaw went silently towards the door, but, just as he got there,
he turned round, and said:

"If there were more people like me, and fewer like you, there would
be less evil in the world, sir. It's your sentimentalists that nurse
up sin."

Although Mr Benson had been very calm during this interview, he had
been much shocked by what had been let out respecting Richard's
forgery; not by the fact itself so much as by what it was a sign of.
Still, he had known the young man from childhood, and had seen, and
often regretted, that his want of moral courage had rendered him
peculiarly liable to all the bad effects arising from his father's
severe and arbitrary mode of treatment. Dick would never have had
"pluck" enough to be a hardened villain, under any circumstances;
but, unless some good influence, some strength, was brought to bear
upon him, he might easily sink into the sneaking scoundrel. Mr Benson
determined to go to Mr Farquhar's the first thing in the morning, and
consult him as a calm, clear-headed family friend--partner in the
business, as well as son and brothe