eemed to me, there was nothing but
disgrace and ruin staring me in the face. Now, I may hope that, thanks
to your forbearance, I may enjoy in peace what remains to me of life.
You may not believe me, Mr. Hartington, there is no reason why you
should--but I swear to you I have been a miserable man ever since your
father's death. It was not that I was afraid of detection--it seemed to
me in that respect I had nothing to fear--and yet I was miserable.
Before, I was proud of the respect in which I was held in the town, and
felt to some extent I deserved it, for I had given up well nigh every
moment of my spare time to its service. Since then I have known that the
poorest man in the town would draw aside from me did he but know what I
was. To my family it has been a terrible disappointment that the county
has turned its back on us. To me it has been a relief. I have felt a
sort of satisfaction at finding that, in this respect at least, I had
sinned in vain. Were it not for my wife and girls I would even now
prefer that all should be known and that I should take the punishment
that I deserve. I could bear prison-life better than to go about and mix
with other men, knowing what I know of myself and feeling always what
they would think of me did they know it also----" and he broke down and
buried his face in his hands.

Cuthbert put his hand on his shoulder.

"You have done wrong, Mr. Brander, but as you have repented of it, you
may fairly hope it will be forgiven you as freely and as fully as I
forgive you. You may take it from me that I feel I have been greatly
benefited by what has taken place, and that I have reason to bless the
necessity that fell upon me for working for my living. I was spending a
very useless and indolent life, and had nothing occurred to rouse me,
should probably have led it to the end. Now I have worked hard for two
years, and my masters tell me that I have every prospect of rising to
eminence as an artist. There will be no occasion for me to rely upon
that as a profession now, but the good the necessity for work has done
me will remain, and at any rate I shall continue to work at it until
this mortgage is paid off. It has in another way brought happiness into
my life. Therefore, on my account at least, you need not regret what has
happened. I should say nothing at present as to your intention of
leaving here. Possibly we may hit upon some reason for your doing so
that will be accepted as a natural on