t you have quite forgiven me for that old business. It has been
the unfortunate cause of getting you into this affair. Had it not
been for that no one would ever, for a moment, have doubted the
truth of your story."

"There is nothing to forgive, squire," Reuben said. "I never blamed
you for it, from the first; and even had I done so, your goodness,
of which I only heard yesterday, would have made up, many times,
for any mistake you may have made then."

"That is right, my lad," the squire said. "I am glad that matter is
made up. And now I will not keep you, for I know you will want to
be off home to your mother."

Reuben walked quietly home, so as to give the schoolmaster, who had
hurried on ahead, time to break the news of his acquittal to his
mother. Mrs. Whitney had remained in court during the trial, but
had retired when the jury left to consider their verdict, being
completely overcome with agitation and excitement. The schoolmaster
had slept in the house, and had persuaded her not to go to the
court in the morning; fearing as he did that the verdict would be a
hostile one. She completely broke down when she was told the news,
and was still sobbing when Reuben arrived.

The schoolmaster at once took his leave, leaving mother and son
together; and promised them to return in a day or two. When he
again came over, he saw at once that Mrs. Whitney was looking
depressed and unhappy.

"What do you think, Mr. Shrewsbury? Reuben says that he shall go
abroad, out to Australia. I have talked against it till I am
hoarse, but it's no good. I hope you will persuade him to give up
such a mad idea."

"I will hear what he has to say first, Mrs. Whitney. Reuben has
generally a good deal to say for his side of a question, and I must
hear his reasons before I can argue against them.

"Now, Reuben, what have you to say for yourself?"

"I made up my mind while I was in jail," Reuben replied, "that if I
was acquitted, I would go right away. These things stick to a man
all through his life. That first affair, four years ago, nearly got
me transported now; and if a small matter like that did me such
harm, what will this do? If I had been proved to be innocent, it
would have been different; but as it is, I believe nine people out
of ten in court thought I was guilty; and I am convinced that the
jury were eleven to one against me, only the twelfth was more
obstinate than they were, and so they gave in. I believe it was
Jacob Pr