en daylight,
and before many people, to that good man at Stringby, so my duty is to
go over to Stringby and just as publicly to confess to him, and to the
people who may be there, and in open daylight, my sorrow for what I did.
That's just it, auntie, is it not?"

"It will certainly be making the best use of my example, dear boy," she
replied, "and will be showing true moral courage; but no doubt it will
involve much self-denial, and require much strength from the only true
fountain of strength."

"It shall be done, and to-morrow," said Walter firmly.

"Would it be any comfort or help to you if I were to go with you?" asked
Amos.

"The greatest comfort in the world," cried his brother joyfully; "yes,
and let Julia come too. She was grieved to see me led away as I was,
and it will therefore be a happiness to me if she will come with us and
hear my confession."

And so it was arranged.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

UNEXPECTED FRUIT.

The next day, after luncheon, the brothers, with their sister, started
for Stringby, but not in very buoyant spirits. Walter had no thought of
drawing back, nevertheless he felt an almost overwhelming shrinking from
the task which he had undertaken. The loving smile, however, and gentle
words of affectionate concern with which his aunt had cheered him as
they set off were a source of much strength and comfort to him; they
hovered around his heart like the shadowing wing of an angel whenever
the scorching heat of his furnace of trial swept by anticipation across
his shrinking spirit. He had thought it wiser not to confide to his
mother either the cause of his shame or his intended amends.

The weather was clear and bright as they began their ride, but a smart
shower burst upon them when they had accomplished half the distance, and
forced them to go out of their way to take shelter. Would the preacher,
distrusting the sky, have given up his work just for this afternoon? If
so, what pain and humiliation Walter would be spared! Oh, how he clung
for a few moments to the hope that it might be so! for then he would
have made the amends and the sacrifice, and shown the moral courage, _in
intention_, and, at the same time, would be spared the actual heavy
trial itself. But then he dashed away these thoughts from him, and with
an inward prayer nerved himself for the coming effort.

Amos, as he rode by his side, seemed to guess what was passing through
his mind, and said, "Can I speak