the cold reply.
"What's far worse, he insulted my wife."

"Oh, Mr. Holcroft! He was young and foolish; he didn't realize--"

"Were you and your husband young and foolish," he interrupted bitterly,
"when you gulled me into employing that crazy cousin of yours?"

This retort was so overwhelming that Mrs. Weeks sobbed speechlessly.

Alida could not help overhearing the conversation, and she now glided
into the room and stood by her husband's side.

"James," she said, "won't you do me a favor, a great kindness?"

Mrs. Weeks raised her eyes and looked wonderingly at this dreadful
woman, against whom all Oakville was talking.

"I know what you wish, Alida," he replied sternly, "but I can't do it.
This is a case for justice. This woman's son was the leader of that
vile crowd that insulted you last night. I can forgive his injuring
me, but not the words he used about you. Moreover, when I was alone
and struggling to keep my home, Mrs. Weeks took part with her husband
in imposing on me their fraud of a cousin and in tricking me out of
honest money. Any woman with a heart in her breast would have tried to
help a man situated as I was. No, it's a clear case of justice, and
her son shall go to jail."

Mrs. Weeks wailed afresh at this final sentence. Holcroft was amazed
to see his wife drop on her knees beside his chair. He raised her
instantly. "Don't do such a thing as that," he said huskily.

Without removing her pleading eyes from his face she asked gently, "Who
told us to forgive as we would be forgiven? James, I shall be very
unhappy if you don't grant this mother's prayer."

He tried to turn away, but she caught his hand and held his eyes with
hers. "Alida," he said in strong agitation, "you heard the vile, false
words that Timothy Weeks said last night. They struck you down like a
blow. Can you forgive him?"

"Yes, and I plead with you to forgive him. Grant me my wish, James; I
shall be so much happier, and so will you."

"Well, Mrs. Weeks, now you know what kind of a woman your son came to
insult. You may tell your neighbors that there's one Christian in
Oakville. I yield to Mrs. Holcroft, and will take no further action in
the affair if we are let alone."

Mrs. Weeks was not a bad woman at heart, and she had received a
wholesome lesson. She came and took Alida's hand as she said, "Yes,
you are a Christian--a better woman than I've been, but I aint so mean
and bad but what, when I see my fault,