"Do you feel better?" asked Mrs. Lewis. She had remained some time with her hand on his forehead. "Not much," he replied, and rising as he spoke, he added, "I think a walk in the open air will do me good." "Don't go out, James," said Mrs. Lewis, a troubled feeling coming into her heart. "I'll walk only a few squares." And James went from the parlor and passed into the street. "There is something more than headache the matter with him," thought Mrs. Lewis. For half an hour James walked without any purpose in his mind beyond the escape from the presence of his mother. At last his walk brought him near Mr. Carman's store, and at passing he was surprised at seeing a light within. "What can this mean?" he asked himself, a new fear creeping, with its shuddering impulse, into his heart. He listened by the door and windows, but he could hear no sound within. "There's something wrong," he said, "what can it be? If this is discovered what will be the end of it? Ruin! ruin! My poor mother!" The wretched young man hastened on, walked the streets for two hours, when he returned home. His mother met him when he entered, and with unconcealed anxiety, asked him if he were better. He said yes, but in a manner that only increased the trouble she felt, and passed up hastily to his own room. In the morning the strangely altered face of James, as he met his mother at the breakfast table, struck alarm into her heart. He was silent, and evaded all her questions. While they sat at the table the door-bell rang loudly. The sound startled James, and he turned his head to listen, in a nervous way. "Who is it?" asked Mrs. Lewis. "A gentleman who wishes to see Mr. James," replied the girl. James rose instantly and went out into the hall, shutting the dining-room door as he did so. Mrs. Lewis sat waiting her son's return. She heard him coming back in a few moments; but he did not enter the dining-room. Then he returned along the hall to the street door and she heard it shut. All was silent. Starting up, she ran into the passage, but James was not there. He had gone away with the person who called. Ah, that was a sad going away. Mr. Carman had spent half the night in examining the accounts of James, and discovered frauds of over six thousand dollars. Blindly indignant, he sent an officer to arrest him early in the morning; and it was with this officer that he went away from his mother, _never_ to _return_. "The young villain shall lie in the bed he has made for himself!" exclaimed Mr. Carman, in his bitter indignation. And he made the exposure completely. At the trial he showed an eager desire to have him convicted, and presented such an array of evidence that the jury could not give any other verdict than guilty.