rags that the upon him the father put prodigal's boy is not a prodigal, Helen. our I know him well, and I have faith in him, and faith in human nature especially Cardross nature." And the Earl smiled. "Far deeper than any harshness will smite him the consciousness of being forgiven and trusted; of being expected to expected to carry out in his future life all that was a-missing in two not mother's particularly happy lives, his and mine." Helen Bruce resisted no more. She could not. She was a wise woman a generous and loving-hearted woman; still in that self-contained, solitary existence, which had been spent close beside her, yet into she had never the mystery of which penetrated, and never would penetrate, there was a nearness heavenly things, and to heaven and heavenly а clearness of vision about earthly things which went far beyond her own. She could not quite comprehend it she would never have thought of it herself but she dimly felt felt that the Earl's judgment was correct, and that, strange as his conduct might appear, he was acting after that large sense of rightness which implies righteousness; а course of action which the world SO often ridicules and mis construes, because is taken from the point of view an altitude not of this world, and the objects regarded therefrom are things not visible but invisible. Cardross appeared next day not at home, but at the Castle, and was closeted there for several hours with the Earl before he ever mother. When he did,-and it was saw his flung himself on his knees before her and sobbed in her lap the great fellow of six feet high and twenty years old sobbed and prayed and prayed for for giveness with the humility of a child. 66 Oh, mother, mother and he has forgiven me too! To think what he has done for me what he is about to do me, who have had no father, he "That he was my father, and that was dead; SO I bade them speak no more about him." "That was right, my son." Then they were silent, till Cardross burst out again. can "It is wonderful wonderful! I hardly believe it yet. That we should never be poor any more you, mother, who have gone through SO and I, who thought I should have to work hard all my days for both of us. And I will work!" cried the boy, as he tossed back his curls and lifted up to his mother a face that in brightness and energy was the very copy of her own, or what hers used to be. "I'll show you, and the Earl too, how hard I can work; as hard as if for daily bread. I'll do everything he as he says. I will make a name for myself and him too mother, know I am to bear his name?' د, you "And I am glad to bear it. I told him So. He shall be proud of me yet, and you too. Oh, mother, mother, I will never vex you again." VOL. II R |