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To how much evil do they lead!" "And you were talking thus, when Mrs. Lee found you?" "Yes, sir." "What did she say?" "I can hardly tell what she said, I was so frightened. But I know she spoke angrily to him and to me, and threatened to see you." Mr. Lofton sighed deeply, then added, as if the remark were casual "And that is the last you have seen of him."
"I will persuade him to go back with me to Fairview, and then I know that all will be forgiven between him and his grandfather. You don't know how Mr. Lofton has failed since Mark went away," added Jenny in a tone meant to reach the feelings of her auditor. "He looks many years older. Ah, sir, if you would only grant my request!" "Will the young man return to his family!
In silence they walked along, side by side, the pressure of thought and feeling on each mind being so strong as to take away the desire to speak, until the old mansion house of Mr. Lofton appeared in view. Here Mark stopped again; but the tenderly uttered "Come," and the tearful glance of Jenny, effectually controlled the promptings of an unbroken will.
Mark stepped in as he spoke, and took a chair in the neat little sitting room into which the door opened. "She has gone over to Mr. Lofton's," said the girl, in reply, "and won't be back for an hour." "Has she, indeed? Then you know Mr. Lofton?" "Oh, yes. We know him very well. He owns our little cottage." "Does he! No doubt you find him a good landlord."
They have driven me away, because they thought I meant to harm you. But he said nothing wrong was in his heart, and asked me to pray for him, as he would need my prayers." At this part of her narrative, Jenny wept bitterly, and her auditor's eyes became dim also. Satisfied that Jenny's story was true in every particular, Mr. Lofton spoke kindly to her and sent her home.
Lofton understand how necessary to his happiness the affectionate girl had become. So troubled was he at her absence, and so anxious for her safety, that when night came he found himself unable to sleep. In thinking about the dangers that would gather around one so ignorant of the world, his imagination magnified the trials and temptations to which, alone as she was, she would be exposed.
"No, sir; I met him a little while ago, as he was hurrying away from your house." "You did!" Mr. Lofton started at Jenny's unexpected reply. "Yes, sir." "Did he speak to you?" "Yes; he stopped and caught hold of my hand, saying, 'God bless you, Jenny! We may never meet again.
She was more troubled about Mark after this, for she understood how unfitted he was for the hard service he entered upon so blindly. One day, it was over a year from the time that Mark left Fairview, Mr. Lofton sent for Jenny, and, on her coming into his room, handed her a sealed letter, but without making any remark.
He showed no interest when Lord Lofton wrote him a most warmly and tactfully expressed letter of welcome, in which he told the coming chaplain that he must not suppose there was not work in plenty to be done for souls in the country. "Humbugging old men and women who want pensions and soup and blankets!" Mark said with unusual irritation, as he flung the letter to his friend.
Lofton did not expect the calmness was from a strong effort: the sadness expressed his real feelings: "I will not trouble you with my presence an hour longer. If evil arise from this trampling of good impulse out of my heart, the sin rest on your own head. I never was and never can be patient under a false judgment. Farewell, grandfather! We may never meet again.
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