ot if the new rector had asked me, which many
expected and even paid their compliments to me on, but I always said
'No, no.' But you'll go and see her, my dear, and comfort her poor
heart, which, you may depend, is longing and craving after you, my
dear; and all the more if her new gentleman isn't quite as he should
be."

Harold could not persuade himself to bring out any answer but "I'll see
about it;" and when we were alone, he said with a sigh, "If I should be
any comfort to her poor heart."

"I should think there was no doubt of that."

"I am afraid of committing murder," answered Harold, almost under his
breath, over the trunk.

"Oh, Harold! Not now."

"I don't know," he said.

"You have not seen him for ten years. He may be altered as much as
you."

"And for the worse. I could almost say I dare not."

"There's nothing you don't dare, God helping you," I said.

"I shall think. If it is my duty, I suppose God will help me.
Hitherto, I have thought my rage against the brutes made it worse for
her, and that I do best for her by keeping out of the way."

"I think they would respect you now too much to do anything very bad
before you."

"She would fare the worse for it afterwards."

"I am of Mrs. Alison's opinion, that she would be willing for the sake
of seeing her son, and such a son."

Harold sighed.

"But it could not have been so dreadful when Eustace lived with them,
and was so fond of the man."

"He nattered Eustace to curry favour with him and his father. He has
sunk much lower. Then he lived like a decent clergyman. He has thrown
all that off in New Zealand, and fallen entirely under the dominion of
that son. I could wish I had quite throttled that Dick when I so
nearly did so at school."

"If you say such things, I shall think you ought not to trust yourself
there."

"That is it--I am afraid. I have crimes enough already."

It was too great a responsibility to persuade him to put himself into
temptation, even now that he knew what prayer was. I longed to have
seen him come yet nearer, and taken the means of strengthening and
refreshing. But he said, "I cannot; I have not time to make fit
preparation." And when I pleaded that I could not bear to think of his
encountering danger without fulfilling that to which the promise of
Everlasting Life is attached, I struck the wrong key. What he was not
ready to do for love, he would not do for fear, or hurry preparation
beyond wha