She rather wished that he would question
her as to what made her forget all. But he
only said,

' How was she looking, mother? '

' Will, thou seest I never set eyes on her
before; but she's a good gentle looking
creature; and I love her dearly, as I've
reason to,'

Will looked up with momentary surprise;
for his mother was too shy to be usually taken
with strangers. But after all it was natural
in this case, for who could look at Susan without
loving her? So still he did not ask any
questions, and his poor mother had to take
courage, and try again to introduce the
subject near to her heart. But how?

' Will! ' said she (jerking it out, in sudden
despair of her own powers to lead to what she
wanted to say), ' I telled her all.'

' Mother! you've ruined me,' said he
standing up, and standing opposite to her
with a stern white look of affright on his
face.

' No! my own dear lad; dunnot look so
scared, I have not ruined you! ' she exclaimed,
placing her two hands on his shoulders and
looking fondly into his face. ' She's not one to
harden her heart against a mother's sorrow.
My own lad, she's too good for that. She's
not one to judge and scorn the sinner. She's
too deep read in her New Testament for
that. Take courage, Will; and thou mayst,
for I watched her well, though it is not
for one woman to let out another's secret.
Sit thee down, lad, for thou look'st very
white.'

He sat down. His mother drew a stool
towards him, and sat at his feet.

' Did you tell her about Lizzie, then? ' asked
he, hoarse and low.

"I did, I telled her all; and she fell a
crying over my deep sorrow, and the poor
wench's sin. And then a light comed into her
face, trembling and quivering with some new
glad thought; and what dost thou think it
was, Will, lad? Nay, I'll not misdoubt but
that thy heart will give thanks as mine did,
afore God and His angels, for her great
goodness. That little Nanny is not her niece,
she's our Lizzie's own child, my little
grandchild.' She could no longer restrain her tears,
and they fell hot and fast, but still she looked
into his face.

' Did she know it was Lizzie's child? I do
not comprehend,' said he, flushing red.

' She knows now: she did not at first, but
took the little helpless creature in, out of her
own pitiful loving heart, guessing only that it
was the child of shame, and she's worked for
it, and kept it, and tended it ever sin' it were
a mere baby, and loves it fondly. Will!
won't you love it? ' asked she beseechingly.

He was silent for an instant; then he said,
' Mother, I'll try. Give me time, for all these
things startle me. To think of Susan having
to do with such a child! '

' Aye, Will! and to think (as may be yet)
of Susan having to do with the child's mother!
For she is tender and pitiful, and speaks
hopefully of my lost one, and will try and find her
for me, when she comes, as she does
sometimes, to thrust money under the door, for
her baby. Think of that, Will. Here's
Susan, good and pure as the angels in heaven,
yet, like them, full of hope and mercy, and
one who, like them, will rejoice over her as
repents. Will, my lad, I'm not afeared of
you now, and I must speak, and you must
listen. I am your mother, and I dare to
command you, because I know I am in the
right and that God is on my side. If He
should lead the poor wandering lassie to
Susan's door, and she comes back crying and
sorrowful, led by that good angel to us once
more, thou shalt never say a casting-up
word to her about her sin, but be tender
and helpful towards one " who was lost and
is found," so may God's blessing rest on thee,
and so mayst thou lead Susan home as thy
wife.'

She stood, no longer as the meek, imploring,
gentle mother, but firm and dignified, as if the
interpreter of God's will. Her manner was
so unusual and solemn, that it overcame all
Will's pride and stubbornness. He rose softly
while she was speaking, and bent his head
as if in reverence at her words, and the solemn
injunction which they conveyed. When she
had spoken, he said in so subdued a voice
that she was almost surprised at the sound,
' Mother, I will.'

' I may be dead and gone,—but all the same,
—thou wilt take home the wandering sinner,
and heal up her sorrows, and lead her to her
Father's house. My lad! I can speak no
more; I'm turned very faint.'

He placed her in a chair; he ran for water.
She opened her eyes and smiled.

' God bless you, Will. Oh! I am so happy.
It seems as if she were found; my heart is so
filled with gladness.'

That night Mr. Palmer stayed out late and
long. Susan was afraid that he was at his
old haunts and habits,—getting tipsy at some
public-house; and this thought oppressed her,
even though she had so much to make her
happy, in the consciousness that Will loved
her. She sat up long, and then she went
to bed, leaving all arranged as well as she
could for her father's return. She looked at
the little rosy sleeping girl who was her bed-
fellow, with redoubled tenderness, and with
many a prayerful thought. The little arms
entwined her neck as she lay down, for Nanny
was a light sleeper, and was conscious that
she, who was loved with all the power of that
sweet childish heart, was near her, and by
her, although she was too sleepy to utter any
of her half-formed words.

And by-and-bye she heard her father come
home, stumbling uncertain, trying first the
windows, and next the door-fastenings, with
many a loud incoherent murmur. The little
Innocent twined around her seemed all the