fainter and fainter before
you--quiet times of thought, when you remembered the days of your youth,
and the friends you then had and knew;--you would recollect that one of
them had left an only son, who had done wrong--who had sinned--sinned
against you in his weakness--and you would think then--you could not help
it--how you had forgotten mercy in justice--and, as justice required he
should be treated as a felon, you threw him among felons--where every
glimmering of goodness was darkened for ever. Edward is, after all, more
weak than wicked;--but he will become wicked if you put him in prison,
and have him transported. God is merciful--we cannot tell or think
how merciful. Oh, sir, I am so sure you will be merciful, and give my
brother--my poor sinning brother--a chance, that I will tell you all. I
will throw myself upon your pity. Edward is even now at home--miserable
and desperate;--my mother is too much stunned to understand all our
wretchedness--for very wretched we are in our shame."

As she spoke the wind arose and shivered in the wiry leaves of the
fir-trees, and there was a moaning sound as of some Ariel imprisoned in the
thick branches that, tangled overhead, made a shelter for them. Either the
noise or Mr. Buxton's fancy called up an echo to Maggie's voice--a pleading
with her pleading--a sad tone of regret, distinct yet blending with her
speech, and a falling, dying sound, as her voice died away in miserable
suspense.

It might be that, formed as she was by Mrs. Buxton's care and love, her
accents and words were such as that lady, now at rest from all sorrow,
would have used;--somehow, at any rate, the thought flashed into Mr.
Buxton's mind, that as Maggie spoke, his dead wife's voice was heard,
imploring mercy in a clear, distinct tone, though faint, as if separated
from him by an infinite distance of space. At least, this is the account
Mr. Buxton would have given of the manner in which the idea of his wife
became present to him, and what she would have wished him to do a powerful
motive in his conduct. Words of hers, long ago spoken, and merciful,
forgiving expressions made use of in former days to soften him in some
angry mood, were clearly remembered while Maggie spoke; and their influence
was perceptible in the change of his tone, and the wavering of his manner
henceforward.

"And yet you will not save Frank from being involved in your disgrace,"
said he; but more as if weighing and deliberating on t