"He has asked me to consult you about his going into the Church. I

hope you will not think that I consented to take a liberty in promising

to do so."

"On the contrary, Mr. Farebrother," said Mary, giving up the roses, and

folding her arms, but unable to look up, "whenever you have anything to

say to me I feel honored."

"But before I enter on that question, let me just touch a point on

which your father took me into confidence; by the way, it was that very

evening on which I once before fulfilled a mission from Fred, just

after he had gone to college. Mr. Garth told me what happened on the

night of Featherstone's death--how you refused to burn the will; and he

said that you had some heart-prickings on that subject, because you had

been the innocent means of hindering Fred from getting his ten thousand

pounds. I have kept that in mind, and I have heard something that may

relieve you on that score--may show you that no sin-offering is

demanded from you there."

Mr. Farebrother paused a moment and looked at Mary. He meant to give

Fred his full advantage, but it would be well, he thought, to clear her

mind of any superstitions, such as women sometimes follow when they do

a man the wrong of marrying him as an act of atonement. Mary's cheeks

had begun to burn a little, and she was mute.

"I mean, that your action made no real difference to Fred's lot. I

find that the first will would not have been legally good after the

burning of the last; it would not have stood if it had been disputed,

and you may be sure it would have been disputed. So, on that score,

you may feel your mind free."

"Thank you, Mr. Farebrother," said Mary, earnestly. "I am grateful to

you for remembering my feelings."

"Well, now I may go on. Fred, you know, has taken his degree. He has

worked his way so far, and now the question is, what is he to do? That

question is so difficult that he is inclined to follow his father's

wishes and enter the Church, though you know better than I do that he

was quite set against that formerly. I have questioned him on the

subject, and I confess I see no insuperable objection to his being a

clergyman, as things go. He says that he could turn his mind to doing

his best in that vocation, on one condition. If that condition were

fulfilled I would do my utmost in helping Fred on. After a time--not,

of course, at first--he might be with me as my curate, and he would

have so much to do that his stipend would be nearly what I used to get

as vicar. But I repeat that there is a condition without which all

this good cannot come to pass. He has opened his heart to me, Miss

Garth, and asked me to plead for him. The condition lies entirely in

your feeling."




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