"' Judge Markham,' said he, turning frankly to me, 'you know I am a born fool, and just now I feel like breaking entirely down, and crying like a woman. For these last four years I have lived utterly alone, confiding nothing to any one, and I am too weak to go so, always.' "Oh, how I wished you had been there, with your sweet woman's heart, and voice, and tact. "'My dear boy,' said I, 'if there is anything in the wide world that I can say and do_ only let me know what it is. I am more anxious to help you, than you are to be helped, if I only may.' "'I don't know how I ought to meet you, Judge Markham. You wrote me a manly letter, full of kindness, and I answered--God knows what--I was so wretched.' "'I could not blame you,'I said, 'I am much in fault towards you, but it was from my not knowing you. I regret it very much.' "'I don't know,' he answered, 'that you should say that to me. I feel sorry and hurt that anybody should make apologies to me. Why should you have known me"? I did not not know myself, and don't now. I know I can not hate or even dislike anybody, and I always liked you, and I do now.' "'Barton,' said I, 'God bless you! you never can have cause of complaint against me or mine again: only give us your confidence, and trust us.' "'I am sure you are very kind,' said he, 'and it is very pleasant to hear it said. I want to see Mrs. Markham, and in some way say how grateful I am for her kind expressions towards me, and she and--and you all, have been very kind to my poor dear mother for the past year.' "'You would not let us be kind to you,' said I. "'No. How could I?' he answered. "'I don't know,'said I. 'I only hope now that there may be no more misunderstandings; that you will now let us--will give Julia an opportunity, at least to express her gratitude to you, and that we may all unite in so doing.' "He was silent a moment, and then went on as if thinking aloud: "'Julia! Good Heavens! how can I ever meet her!--Pardon me; I mean Miss Markham. I shall certainly call upon the ladies at a very early day,' he said, coldly. 'The fact is, Judge Markham,' continued he, 'I have been under a little strain, and I am not used to it. I come back here near home, and see so many old Newbury people, who make me forget how they used to dislike me, and all the old, and all the more recent things, come back upon me so strongly, and I find I am as weak and boyish and foolish as ever.' "He did not say much more--he finally asked about you, and after much hesitation, about Julia. It is so easy to see that his heart is full of her, that I could not help feeling almost wretched for him. I then asked him when he was going to Newbury. He thought of going to-morrow in the stage, but said some parties wanted to see him Friday evening. He has finally consented to wait and ride down with us on Saturday, after the term closes.