xton had been so unnerved by the
scene that her health had suffered from it seriously. All this had
happened when James was growing out of boyhood. But not a day had
passed that the young man did not see a sad result of that great
gambling passion in his own mother's face and bearing. He loathed the
thought of a vice so debasing that it ignored all the tender ties of
kindred and was ready to stop at nothing in order to get means for its
exercise.

Mr. Hardy knew the story, and he exclaimed: "Forgive me, James, I did
not think!" Then, after a pause, "Are you a Christian? I mean, do you
have a faith in the revelation of God to men through Jesus Christ, and
do you try to live according to His teachings, with a supreme love for
God controlling your life? Do you live every day as if it might be the
last you would have to live?"

James started. Was Mr. Hardy out of his mind? He had never heard him
talk like this before. The idea of Mr. Hardy caring about his
religious character in the event of his becoming a son-in-law was an
idea too remote for occurrence. He could see, however, that some very
powerful change had taken place in Mr. Hardy's usual demeanour. His
words also produced a strong effect upon the young man. He was like
thousands of young men--temperate, honest, industrious, free from
vices, strictly moral, but without any decided religious faith. "Am I
a Christian?" he asked himself, echoing Mr. Hardy's question. No; he
could not say that he was. He had, in fact, never been confronted with
the question before. So he replied to Mr. Hardy:

"No, sir; I don't think I am what would be called a Christian. As for
living as if every day were to be my last--do you think that is
possible, sir?"

Mr. Hardy did not answer. He walked along thoughtfully. In the course
of the conversation they had reached the corner where the young man
turned down to his office, and the two paused.

"I want to have another talk with you," Mr. Hardy said. "To-day is
Tuesday; say to-morrow evening. I want to see your father also,
and"--Mr. Hardy was on the point of saying that he wanted to ask the
elder Caxton's forgiveness, but for some reason he stopped without
doing so.

James exclaimed eagerly as Mr. Hardy turned to go:

"Then you don't forbid my entertaining some hope of your good will in
the matter of my love for Clara?" He lowered his voice and spoke very
strongly. "You don't forget your own youth, and the way