nd a far greater man than any of his family,
and it was _his_ to say I had helped him to become so."

"I've heard o' that too," was the cautious rejoinder of the old
minister.

The memories thus suddenly brought up were too much for the poor widow's
composure, and she had to turn away and wipe the tears from her eyes.
"Yes, sir," said she at last, "my noble-hearted husband was made to feel
through his whole life the scorn of those who would not know his wife,
and it is not from such as these my poor boy is to crave assistance. As
for Tony himself," said she, with more energy of voice and manner, "he'd
never forgive me if I took such a step."

The good minister would fain have rebuked the indulgence of sentiments
like these, which had little of forgiveness in their nature. He felt
sorely tempted to make the occasion profitable by a word in season;
but his sagacity tempered his zeal, and he simply said, "Let byganes
be byganes, Mrs. Butler, or, at all events, let them not come back like
troubled spirits to disturb the future."

"I will do my best, doctor," said she, calmly, "and, to do so, I will
talk of something else. Can you tell me if there is a Mr. Elphinstone
in the Ministry now,--in the Cabinet, I mean," said she, correcting
herself, for she remembered what the word signifies to Presbyterian
ears.

"There is a Sir Harry Elphinstone, Secretary of State for the Colonies,
ma'am."

"That must be the same, then; my husband always called him Harry; they
were like brothers at the Cape long, long ago. Could n't he do something
for Tony, think you?"

"The very man who could; and maybe, too, in the very sort of career
would suit the lad best of all. He's strong of limb and stout of heart,
and has brave health,--he's just the man to meet the life and enjoy the
very accidents of a new world."

"If he could leave me,--that is, if I could bear to part with _him_,
doctor," said she, with a thick utterance.

"These are not days, my dear madam, when a mother can tie a son to her
apron. The young birds will leave the nest, make it ever so warm and
snug for them; and it was a wise Providence that so decreed it."

"Would there be any impropriety in my writing to Mr.--Sir Harry
Elphinstone?" asked she.

"I can see none whatever. It is more than likely that he 'll thank you
heartily for the chance of serving his old friend's son. Such a great
man gives away every day more places than would provide for three
generations of