revived when he was awake last," Betsey added, as
she came out of his room.

"Mr Maxwell, Jacob," said Elizabeth, "the strangest thing has happened.
Jacob, look at this," and she put into his hand the letter with the red
seal on it, on which his eyes had been fixed since ever he came in.

He grew pale when he saw his father's name in the once familiar
handwriting, and when he saw the money, and read the words to his
father, written on the other side, he sat down suddenly without a word.
If Elizabeth had thought a moment, she might have hesitated about giving
it to him while others were looking on. Betsey was glad that she had
done it. Elizabeth took the letter which Jacob had laid down and gave
it to Mr Maxwell:

"You have heard of Hugh Fleming, the lad who went wrong. Betsey can
tell you more than I can. I found the letter among some old papers of
my father's. I think he cannot have read it, for the seal was not
broken. There must have been some mistake."

Mr Maxwell read it in silence.

"But it is this that has troubled us. A letter from Hugh to his father.
Think of it, Jacob. After all these years!"

Yes. After all these years! "Be sure your sin will find you out."
That is what Jacob was saying to himself. Even Betsey could have found
it in her heart to pity the misery seen in his face.

"He can't be so cold-blooded as people suppose," thought she.

"Should it be given to his father at once? I think the worst part of
the trouble to him has been the thought that his son was cut off so
suddenly--that he died unrepenting."

Mr Maxwell looked at the folded paper and then at Jacob.

"It may trouble the old man, but I do not think we have a right to
withhold it."

Elizabeth was about to say that she had looked at the note, but Betsey
interrupted her:

"He was sorry for his sin--whatever it was. His written words to Uncle
Gershom prove that. And if there is in it any kind of sorrow, or any
proof that others were more guilty than he, it might comfort the old
man."

"Will you take it to him by and by, Mr Maxwell?" said Elizabeth.

"If I am the best person to take it. But he has never spoken to me of
his son."

"He has never spoken a word to any one but the mother. And I feel that
there is comfort to him in this little letter, and you will be glad to
carry him comfort, I know."

"Thank you. Well, I will take it at once. Some one will be up at this
early hour with the grandmother. I will