ume had told her husband
of Robert's words, and of some thoughts of her own, which she had kept
to herself hitherto. Her husband's first idea was that it was a pity
that she should not have a chance of a few words with John. But that
was not her idea; and, besides, it was not possible, for various
reasons.

"He needs a kind word from some one, but not from me. I am not well
pleased with John at present. And it would hardly be wise to give him
`a piece of my mind,' now that he is down-hearted. It is you who must
go."

It must be remembered that at this time Mrs Hume did not know all that
was to be known of John and his troubles. As for the minister, he was
scarcely as much moved as his wife thought he ought to have been by the
tale she had told.

"There is no fear of him, if that is all that ails him," said he.

Still he loved John and longed to help him, and a visit might do both
him and his mother good. So he made up his mind to go and see them
without loss of time.

It all happened well, though it happened without forethought or planning
on his part or on theirs. They rejoiced at his coming. "You have done
him good already," Mrs Beaton's eyes said to the minister, when she
came in and found them together. John sat erect and cheerful, taking
his part in the conversation, and though after a little he grew weary
and bent his head on his hand as the talk went on, he was more like
himself than he had been yet, his mother told the minister, when she
went to the door with him, as he was going away. Though he had already
said good-night to John, he turned back to say it once more.

"I am afraid I have wearied you, lad," said he; "and you were weary
enough before I came--weary of time and place, and of the words and ways
of other folk, and of your own thoughts. I would like well to have the
guiding of you for the next month, and I have but a day. Will you put
yourself into my hands, John, for one day?"

"Ay, that I will, and for as many as you like."

"We'll take one day of it first, if to-morrow be fair."

The day was all that could be desired; clear, but with clouds now and
then, moving before the breeze, to make shadows for their delight, upon
land and sea.

They took a boat at the wharf and sailed away toward the north, having a
mutual friend--"auld Boatie Tamson"--for captain and pilot and crew.
There was health in the smell of the sea, strength in every breath of
the salt air, and rest and peace