; and you
don't consider, darling, that I'll be back again soon. Besides, I'm a
man now, Kate, and I must make my own bread. Who ever heard of a man
being supported by his old father?"

"Well, but you can do that here."

"Now, don't interrupt me, Kate," said Charley, kissing her forehead;
"I'm quite satisfied with _two short_ legs, and have no desire whatever
to make my bread on the top of _three long_ ones. Besides, you know I
can write to you--"

"But you won't; you'll forget."

"No, indeed, I will not. I'll write you long letters about all that I
see and do; and you shall write long letters to me about--"

"Stop, Charley," cried Kate; "I won't listen to you. I hate to think of
it."

And her tears burst forth again with fresh violence. This time
Charley's heart sank too. The lump in his throat all but choked him; so
he was fain to lay his head upon Kate's heaving bosom, and weep along
with her.

For a few minutes they remained silent, when a slight rustling in the
bushes was heard. In another moment a tall, broad-shouldered,
gentlemanly man, dressed in black, stood before them. Charley and Kate,
on seeing this personage, arose, and wiping the tears from their eyes,
gave a sad smile as they shook hands with their clergyman.

"My poor children," said Mr Addison, affectionately, "I know well why
your hearts are sad. May God bless and comfort you! I saw you enter
the wood, and came to bid you farewell, Charley, my dear boy, as I shall
not have another opportunity of doing so."

"O dear Mr Addison," cried Kate, grasping his hand in both of hers, and
gazing imploringly up at him through a perfect wilderness of ringlets
and tears, "do prevail upon Charley to stay at home; please do!"

Mr Addison could scarcely help smiling at the poor girl's extreme
earnestness.

"I fear, my sweet child, that it is too late now to attempt to dissuade
Charley. Besides, he goes with the consent of his father; and I am
inclined to think that a change of life for a _short_ time may do him
good. Come, Kate, cheer up! Charley will return to us again ere long,
improved, I trust, both physically and mentally."

Kate did _not_ cheer up, but she dried her eyes, and endeavoured to look
more composed; while Mr Addison took Charley by the hand, and, as they
walked slowly through the wood, gave him much earnest advice and
counsel.

The clergyman's manner was peculiar. With a large, warm, generous
heart, he possessed an ent