ngly, "I mayn't go with you this afternoon?"

"Certainly not, Willie," very decidedly; "you will spend one hour, from
the time we start, in your own room; and I trust that you will remember
during that time--_if you are_ really sorry--that mine is not the only
forgiveness you have to seek."

"Aleck's, papa?"

"No, not Aleck's; I hope he will never have an idea of all the wrong
feelings you have entertained towards him."

"You mean God's forgiveness," I said, more seriously; for that was a
name never to be pronounced without deep reverence.

"Yes, Willie; don't forget, my child, that the youngest as well as the
oldest of us has need to seek the Fountain opened for all uncleanness.
No repentance will wash us clean. You must ask, through the Lord Jesus,
not only that your sins may be forgiven, but that you may also have
strength to do better for the future. You may go now. Remember what I
said about the hour in your own room."

I departed accordingly, passing Aleck in the passage all ready and
equipped for his ride. Brushing past him, without giving an answer to
his inquiry whether I was going to get ready, I ran quickly up-stairs to
my own room, shut the door, and burst into tears.

By-and-by I heard the horses coming round; then I wiped my eyes, and
kneeling upon a chair at the window, where I could not be seen, watched
all the proceedings.

Rickson, faithful to my interests, had, I perceived, brought up the pony
ready saddled. I almost hoped that Aleck would have had it after all.
But no; I saw him in another moment mounted upon the gray, which,
apparently conscious of a lighter weight than usual, began shaking its
head, and showing off its mettle. Rickson held it firmly. "So-ho!
so-ho!" I heard him saying. "Ease her a bit, Master Gordon; ease her
mouth; there--there--so-ho!"

Aleck held the reins firmly, and his ringing voice came up cheerily
through the air.

"I'm not a bit afraid, thank you, Uncle Grant."

My father in the meantime mounted Peter the Great; and before starting I
saw the stable-boy give him a leading rein, which he put into his
pocket, for future use I mentally decided, in case Aleck should have
difficulty in managing the gray. But no such difficulty occurred within
the range of my observation. When Rickson removed his hand from the
bridle she bounded off rather friskily; but in another moment Aleck had
reined her in, and was displaying such ready ease in the management of
his steed, that