ily. Paulina Maria's
ardent severity of Christianity had produced in her son, under his
first stress of life, a fierce rebound. To no word of Scripture would
Henry Judd resort for comfort; he never bent knee in prayer, and
would not be led, even by his mother's authority, to meeting on
Sunday. The voice of his former mates, who had with him no sympathy
of like affliction, filled him with a sullen rage of injury. He was
somewhat younger than Jerome, but had seemed formerly much attracted
to him. Now he had not spoken to him for a year.

Jerome, when he entered, had looked happy and eager, as if he was
burdened with some pleasant news. Now his expression changed; he
looked at Adoniram, then at Henry, then at Adoniram again, and
motioned an inquiry with his lips. Adoniram shook his head sadly.

Paulina Maria came in through the kitchen, where she had left her
scrubbing utensils, got an unfinished shoe, and sat down to her
binding. She did not notice Jerome again, and he sat frowning moodily
at the floor.

"It is a cold night for the season," remarked Adoniram, at length,
with an uneasy attempt at entertainment, to which Jerome did not
respond with much alacrity. He acted at first as if he did not hear,
then collected himself, said that it was cold, and there might be a
frost if the wind went down, and rose.

"You ain't goin' so soon?" asked Adoniram, with slow surprise.

"I only ran over for a minute; I've got some work to do," muttered
Jerome, and went out.

He went along the ridgy cart-path across the field to the road, but
when he reached it he stopped short. He stood for ten minutes or
more, motionless, thinking so intently that it was as if his body
stood aside from his swift thought, then he returned to the Judd
house.

He went around to the back door, but when he reached it he stopped
again. After a little he crept noiselessly back to the cart-path, and
so to the road again.

But it was as if, when he reached the road, he met some unseen and
mighty arm of denial which barred it. He stopped there for the second
time. Then he went back again to the Judd house, and this time when
he reached the door he opened it and went in.

When he entered the sitting-room, where Adoniram and Paulina Maria
and Henry were, they all looked up in astonishment.

"Forgot anything?" inquired Adoniram.

"Yes," replied Jerome. Then he went on, speaking fast, in a strained
voice, which he tried hard to make casual. "There was s