d to?"

"Yes; they are ready to swear that they saw Cecil bet Turner the watch."

"You did not tell them the circumstances, did you?"

"No."

There was an awkward silence, broken by Mr. Watson.

"If I retract all that I have said against you, and avow your innocence,
will it satisfy you? Will you be silent about Cecil?"

"No!" rose peremptorily to Russell's lips, but he checked it; and the
patient teaching of years, his mother's precepts, and his mother's prayers
brought forth their first fruit--golden charity.

"You merit no forbearance at my hands, and I came here intending to show
you none; but, on reflection, I will not follow your example. Clear my name
before the public, and I leave the whole affair with you. Good morning."

Afraid to trust himself, he turned away and joined Mr. Campbell in the
office.

In the afternoon of the same day came a letter from Mr. Hill containing sad
news. The oculist had operated on Mrs. Aubrey's eyes, but violent
inflammation had ensued; he had done all that scientific skill could
prompt, but feared she would be hopelessly blind. At the close of the
letter Mr. Hill stated that he would bring her home the following week. One
November evening, just before dark, while Russell was cutting wood for the
kitchen-fire, the stage stopped at the cottage-gate, and he hurried forward
to receive his mother in his arms. It was a melancholy reunion; for a
moment the poor sufferer's fortitude forsook her, and she wept. But his
caresses soothed her, and she followed Electra into the house while he
brought in the trunk. When shawl and bonnet had been removed, and Electra
placed her in the rocking-chair, the light fell on face and figure, and the
cousins started at the change that had taken place. She was so ghastly
pale, so very much reduced. She told them all that had occurred during the
tedious weeks of absence; how much she regretted having gone since the trip
proved so unsuccessful, how much more she deplored the affliction on their
account than her own; and then from that hour no allusion was ever made to
it.

CHAPTER V

IRENE IS SENT AWAY

Weeks and months slipped away, and total darkness came down on the widow.
She groped with some difficulty from room to room, and Electra was
compelled to remain at home and watch over her. Russell had become a great
favourite with his crusty employer, and, when the labours of the office
were ended, brought home such books as he needed, and