his cousin gravely, after a moment's hesitation; "but oh,
lad, I have many sad things to mind, and sinful things, too. All these
years cannot be blotted out nor forgotten."

"But they are past, Cousin Hugh, and forgiven, and in one sense blotted
out. There is nothing of them left that need hinder you from being
happy here again."

"Ah, well, that may be. God is good. But I was thinking of something
else when I spoke first. I was thinking that I am not a farmer."

"But you can learn to be one. It's easy enough."

"I am afraid I should not find it easy. I am afraid I should not do
justice to the place. It spoils one for a quiet life, to be knocked
about in the world as I have been. And I know I could never make my
mother happy if I were discontented myself; at least, if she knew of my
discontent."

"She would be sure to see it. You couldn't hide it from her, if
discontent was in your heart. My aunt doesn't say much, but she sees
clearly. But why should you not be happy here? I can't understand it."

"No; I trust you may never be able to understand it. Archie, lad, it is
one of the penalties of an evil life that it changes the nature, so that
the love of pure and simple pleasures, which it drives away, has but a
small chance of coming back again, even when the life is amended. It is
a sad experience."

"But an evil life, Cousin Hugh! You should not say that," said Archie
sorrowfully.

"Well, what would you have? A life of disobedience to one's mother, ten
years of forgetfulness--no, not forgetfulness, but neglect of her.
Surely that cannot be called other than an evil life. And it bears its
fruit."

There was a long pause; and then Archie said:

"Cousin Hugh, I'll tell you what I would do. I would speak to my aunt
about it. If it is true that you could never settle down contented
here, she will be sure to see that it is best for you to go, and she
will say so. I once heard James Muir say that he knew no woman who
surpassed my aunt in sense and judgment. She will be sure to see what
is right, and tell you what to do."

Pleasure and pain oddly mingled in the feelings with which Hugh listened
to his cousin's grave commendation of his mother's sense and judgment;
but he felt that there was nothing better to be done than to tell her
all that was in his heart, and he lost no time in doing so, and Archie's
words were made good. She saw the situation at a glance, and told him
"what to do." Mu