, and withal so delicately, that the most sensitive went
away with their pride unwounded, and the most hardened and irreligious
were softened by it into thankfulness to One higher than their earthly
benefactor, who was only the medium through whom the blessings came.

These were accidental offices, intermingled with the principal duty
which the earl had undertaken, and which he carried out with unremitting
diligence--the care of his old friend's children. He placed some at
school, and others at college; those who were already afloat in the
world he aided with money and influence--an earl's name was so very
influential, as, with an amused smile, he occasionally discovered.

But, busy as his new life was, he never forgot his old life and his old
friends. He turned a deaf ear to all persuasions to take up his
permanent abode, according as his rank and fortune warranted, in
Edinburg. He was not unhappy there--he had plenty to do and to
enjoy; but his heart was in quiet Cairnforth. Several times,
troublesome, and even painful as the act of penmanship was to him, he
sent a few lines to the Manse. But it happened to be a very severe
winter, which made postal communication difficult. Besides, in those
days people neither wrote nor expected letters very often. During the
three months that Lord Cairnforth remained in Edinburg he only received
two epistles from Mr. Cardross, and those were in prolix and Johnsonian
style, on literary topics, and concerning the great and learned, with
whom the poor learned country minister had all his life longed to mix,
and had never been able.

Helen, who had scarcely penned a dozen letters in her life, wrote to him
once only, in reply to one of his, telling him she was doing every
thing as she thought he would best like; that Captain Bruce had assisted
her and her father in many ways, so far as his health allowed, but he
was very delicate still, and talked of going abroad, to the south of
France probably, as soon as possible. The captain himself never wrote
one single line.

At first the earl was a little surprised at this: however, it was not
his habit easily to take offense at his friends. He was quite without
that morbid self-esteem which is always imagining affronts or injuries.
If people liked him, he was glad; if they showed it, he believed them,
and rested in their affection with the simple faith of a child. But if
they seemed to neglect him, he still was ready to conclude th