he case than he had
ever spoken before.

"If Frank wishes it, I will quietly withdraw myself out of his sight
forever;--I give you my promise, before God, to do so. I shall not utter
one word of entreaty or complaint. I will try not to wonder or feel
surprise;--I will bless him in every action of his future life--but think
how different would be the disgrace he would voluntarily incur to my poor
mother's shame, when she wakens up to know what her child has done! Her
very torper about it now is more painful than words can tell."

"What could Edward do?" asked Mr. Buxton. "Mr. Henry won't hear of my
passing over any frauds."

"Oh, you relent!" said Maggie, taking his hand, and pressing it. "What
could he do? He could do the same, whatever it was, as you thought of his
doing, if I had written that terrible letter."

"And you'll be willing to give it up, if Frank wishes, when he knows all?"
asked Mr. Buxton.

She crossed her hands and drooped her head, but answered steadily.

"Whatever Frank wishes, when he knows all, I will gladly do. I will speak
the truth. I do not believe that any shame surrounding me, and not in me,
will alter Frank's love one title."

"We shall see," said Mr. Buxton. "But what I thought of Edward's doing, in
case--Well never mind! (seeing how she shrunk back from all mention of the
letter he had asked her to write,)--was to go to America, out of the way.
Then Mr. Henry would think he had escaped, and need never be told of my
coenivance. I think he would throw up the agency, if he were; and he's a
very clever man. If Ned is in England, Mr. Henry will ferret him out. And,
besides, this affair is so blown, I don't think he could return to his
profession. What do you say to this, Maggie?"

"I will tell my mother. I must ask her. To me it seems most desirable.
Only, I fear he is very ill; and it seems lonely; but never mind! We ought
to be thankful to you forever. I cannot tell you how I hope and trust he
will live to show you what your goodness has made him."

"But you must lose no time. If Mr. Henry traces him; I can't answer for
myself. I shall have no good reason to give, as I should have had, if I
could have told him that Frank and you were to be as strangers to each
other. And even then I should have been afraid, he is such a determined
fellow; but uncommonly clever. Stay!" said he, yielding to a sudden and
inexplicable desire to see Edward, and discover if his criminality had in
any way ch