t
cannot be very far off. I have wished to go to it every autumn. Will you go
with me now? We shall have time before tea."

Frank's dissatisfaction with the stern measures that, urged on by Mr.
Henry, his father took against all who had imposed upon his carelessness as
a landlord, increased rather than diminished. He spoke warmly to him on the
subject, but without avail. He remonstrated with Mr. Henry, and told him
how he felt that, had his father controlled his careless nature, and been
an exact, vigilant landlord, these tenantry would never have had the great
temptation to do him wrong; and that therefore he considered some allowance
should be made for them, and some opportunity given them to redeem their
characters, which would be blasted and hardened for ever by the publicity
of a law-suit. But Mr. Henry only raised his eyebrows and made answer:

"I like to see these notions in a young man, sir. I had them myself at your
age. I believe I had great ideas then, on the subject of temptation and
the force of circumstances; and was as Quixotic as any one about reforming
rogues. But my experience has convinced me that roguery is innate. Nothing
but outward force can control it, and keep it within bounds. The terrors of
the law must be that outward force. I admire your kindness of heart; and in
three-and-twenty we do not look for the wisdom and experience of forty or
fifty."

Frank was indignant at being set aside as an unripe youth. He disapproved
so strongly of all these measures, and of so much that was now going on
at home under Mr. Henry's influence that he determined to pay his long
promised visit to Scotland; and Maggie, sad at heart to see how he was
suffering, encouraged him in his determination.

CHAPTER VIII.

After he was gone, there came a November of the most dreary and
characteristic kind. There was incessant rain, and closing-in mists,
without a gleam of sunshine to light up the drops of water, and make the
wet stems and branches of the trees glisten. Every color seemed dimmed
and darkened; and the crisp autumnal glory of leaves fell soddened to the
ground. The latest flowers rotted away without ever coming to their bloom;
and it looked as if the heavy monotonous sky had drawn closer and closer,
and shut in the little moorland cottage as with a shroud. In doors, things
were no more cheerful. Maggie saw that her mother was depressed, and she
thought that Edward's extravagance must be the occasion. Of