d it is certain that
the sight of his father does wake wrong thoughts. Removed from here, the
best part of him would develop, and when the larger questions of his
future begin to be considered in a few years time, he might then
approach them with an open mind."

"There can be no harm in leaving it till the spring. He'd hate going
away from here."

"I don't think so. The young welcome a change of environment. There is
nothing more healthy for their minds as a rule than to travel about.
However, we will get him used to the idea of going and think about it
again in the spring."

So the subject was left, and when the suggestion of departing from
Bridetown came to Abel, he belied the prophecy of Mr. Churchouse and
declared a strong objection to the thought of going. His mother
influenced him in this.

During the autumn he had a misfortune, for, with two other members of
the 'Red Hand,' he was caught stealing apples at the time of
cider-making. Three strokes of a birch rod fell on each revolutionary,
and not Ernest Churchouse nor his mother could console Abel for this
reverse. He gleaned his sole comfort at a dangerous source, and while
the kindly ignored the event and the unkindly dwelt upon it, only Levi
Baggs applauded Abel and preached privi-conspiracy and rebellion.
Raymond Ironsyde was much perturbed at the adventure, but his friend
Waldron held the event desirable. As a Justice of the Peace, it was
Arthur who prescribed the punishment and trusted in it.

Thus he, too, incurred Abel's enmity. The company of the 'Red Hand' was
disbanded to meet no more, and if his fellow sufferers gained by their
chastisement, it was certain that Sabina's son did not. Insensate law
fits the punishment to the crime rather than to the criminal, as though
a doctor should only treat disease, without thought of the patient
enduring it.

Neither did Abel's mother take the reverse with philosophy. She resented
it as cruel cowardice; but it reminded her of the advantages to be
gained by leaving her old home.

Then fell an unexpected disaster and Mr. Churchouse was called to suffer
a dangerous attack of bronchitis.

The illness seemed to banish all other considerations from Sabina's mind
and, while the issue remained in doubt, she planned various courses of
action. Incidentally, she saw more of Estelle and Miss Ironsyde than of
late, for Mr. Churchouse, whose first pleasure on earth was now Estelle,
craved her presence during convalesc