t difference. And mother did not quite look
on her as her own child. But it was Jane's own fault; for mother would
have made it up with her if she had married the son of our neighbor the
great linendraper, as she might have done; but she would take Mark
Fairfield, a common carpenter. Parents like best those of their children
who succeed best in life. Natural. Why, they did not care for me till I
came back the man I am. But to return to Jane: I'm afraid they've
neglected her. How is she off?"

"She earns her livelihood, and is poor, but contented."

"Ah, just be good enough to give her this," (and Richard took a
bank-note of L50 from his pocket-book). "You can say the old folks sent
it to her; or that it is a present from Dick, without telling her he had
come back from America."

"My dear sir," said the Parson, "I am more and more thankful to have
made your acquaintance. This is a very liberal gift of yours; but your
best plan will be to send it through your mother. For, though I don't
want to betray any confidence you place in me, I should not know what to
answer if Mrs. Fairfield began to question me about her brother. I never
had but one secret to keep, and I hope I shall never have another. A
secret is very like a lie!"

"You had a secret, then," said Richard, as he took back the bank-note.
He had learned, perhaps, in America, to be a very inquisitive man. He
added point-blank, "Pray what was it?"

"Why, what it would not be if I told you," said the Parson, with a
forced laugh--"a secret!"

"Well, I guess we're in a land of liberty--do as you like. Now, I dare
say you think me a very odd fellow to come out of my shell to you in
this off-hand way. But I liked the look of you, even when we were at the
inn together. And just now I was uncommonly pleased to find that,
though you are a Parson, you don't want to keep a man's nose down to a
shop-board, if he has any thing in him. You're not one of the
aristocrats--"

"Indeed," said the Parson, with imprudent warmth, "it is not the
character of the aristocracy of this country to keep people down. They
make way among themselves for any man, whatever his birth, who has the
talent and energy to aspire to their level. That's the especial boast of
the British constitution, sir!"

"Oh, you think so, do you?" said Mr. Richard, looking sourly at the
Parson. "I dare say those are the opinions in which you have brought up
the lad. Just keep him yourself, and let the aristocr