was bleating piteously in its bewilderment.
A pleasant-sounding voice called 'Stephen Fern!' and when he got free
from the entangling thorns, with the rescued lamb in his arms, who
should be waiting for him but the lord of the manor himself! Stephen
knew his face again in an instant, and dropped the lamb that he might
take off his old cap, while the gentleman smiled at him with a hearty
smile.

'I am Danesford, of Danesford,' he said gaily; 'and I believe you are
Stephen Fern, of Fern's Hollow. I've brought you a message, my boy. Can
you guess what young lady has sent me over the hills after you?'

'Miss Anne,' answered Stephen promptly.

'No; there are other young ladies in the world beside Miss Anne!'
replied Mr. Danesford. 'Have you forgotten Miss Lockwood? She has not
forgotten you; and we are come home ready to give battle to your
enemies, and reinstate you in all your rights. She gives Mr. Lockwood
and me no rest until we have got Fern's Hollow, and everything else, for
you again.'

'Sir,' said Stephen, and his eyes filled with tears, 'nobody can give me
back little Nan.'

'No,' answered Mr. Danesford gravely; 'I know how hardly you have been
dealt with, my boy. Tell me truly, is your religion strong enough to
enable you to forgive Mr. Wyley indeed? Is it possible that you can
forgive him from your heart?'

Stephen was silent, looking down at the heath upon which his feet were
pressed, but seeing none of its purple blossoms. It was a question that
must not be answered rashly, for even that morning he had glanced down
the fatal shaft with a deep yearning after little Nan; and as he passed
the ruins of his master's house, his memory had recalled the destruction
of the old hut with something of a feeling of triumph.

'Sir,' he said, looking up to him, 'I'm afraid I can't explain myself.
You know it was for my sake that the Lord Jesus was killed, yet His
Father has forgiven me all my sins; and when I think of that, I can
forgive the master even for little Nan's death with all my heart. But I
don't always remember it; and then I feel a little glad at the fire. I
haven't got much religion yet. I don't know everything that's in the
Bible.'

'Yet I could learn some lessons from you, Stephen,' said Mr. Danesford,
after a pause. 'What do you suppose I should do if anybody tried to take
Danesford Hall from me?'

'I don't know, sir,' answered Stephen.

'Nor do I,' he said, smiling; 'at any rate, they should not h