Frank felt very unwilling; but knew not how to refuse. He had always disliked meeting Mrs. Arundel's eyes, and generally avoided doing so; and now to be called into her room for a tête-à-tête was more than he bargained for. He found her resting on her sofa, with no light in the room but the moonlight which fell on her face. He came in, and stood by her silently, more uncomfortable than he had ever been in his life. "Do not be afraid of me," she said, with a tenderness which was the more gracious, considering the blow she had just received through him. "I am not afraid," he said, trying to put a brave face upon it. "What do you wish to say to me?" "You have no mother, have you, dear?" "No," said the boy, shortly. "She is in heaven, is she not, Frank?" "I suppose so," he answered. "My father always says so." "You would like to meet her again some day, dear?" There was a pause. Frank stood with his face in the dark, and Mrs. Arundel looked in vain; for she could not see it. "I should like my boy to meet me," she said; "and I am thinking of your mother, Frank." He steadied his voice, and answered coldly, "Well, Mrs. Arundel?" "Well, my dear," she answered sadly, "'the wages of sin is death.' If you indulge in sin—God is not mocked—your wages will be death, eternal death." The boy did not answer; but after a while said sullenly, "I did not know you had a sneak for a son." "I did not know I had so noble a son. Do you not suppose, Frank, it would have been far easier to gloss it over? And even if he had repented of going to the theatre, to have avoided telling me?" Frank was still silent. "But now, my dear, I am not going to scold you; I had no such intention in calling you in. I want to speak to you as your own mother would have done, to help you if I can, to warn you of the danger, and to advise you to begin a new life. Come, dear, trust me." She held out her hand, and the touching heavenly look on her face won the boy's heart, and he took her hand, saying huskily: "I beg your pardon, Mrs. Arundel; I am ashamed of myself. I did not think what I was doing." He sat down by her; but was very silent after this confession, and Mrs. Arundel only answered by pressing his hand kindly. Presently she said gently, "Frank, if you had a garden, and you planted a seed which you were told was deadly, would you expect it to bear good fruit when it came up?" "Why no, I suppose not, Mrs. Arundel." "And if you sowed a good seed, would you expect it, after a time, to come up and bear bad fruit?" "No, I suppose not," still answered the boy. "Well, that is just what the Bible says, 'God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.' If you sow now unholy thoughts and deeds, they will bear terrible fruit in your after life.