"WELL, lad, I am sorry to part with you—more than sorry that we should part in this way. There's no one would be more glad than I if you could find a way to prove that you never touched those things. But there! It's past belief. How could any one bring them into the gatehouse without my hearing? I must think evil of you, lad, though I'd fain not." The speaker was old Samuel, and he looked unhappy enough as he said these words. "Thank you," said Reuben, in a choked voice; "I know you mean kindly. Maybe you'll be able to think well of me again some day." Reuben had ascertained that the attic in which he had formerly lodged was vacant once more, and he could have it. So thither he now removed with his few possessions. How long he would be able to live there, he could not tell. He had saved a little money, but that would soon dwindle away, unless he found some means of earning more. Reuben's heart sank within him as he remembered how hard it would be for a young man without a character to gain employment. Had Reuben borne a guilty conscience, he could not have endured to live amongst the workpeople, who all knew of his disgrace. As it was, he shrank from the hard, curious glances directed towards him, and was painfully conscious of the whispers concerning him that were passing amongst his former companions, hearing them with the ears of his mind, if not with his actual bodily ears. But whilst oppressed by his own troubles, Reuben did not forget poor Kate Barnaby. He went almost every day to the hospital to inquire for her, and was thankful to learn that she was making satisfactory progress, and there was good hope that her life would be saved. Day after day Reuben sought for work, but with the result that he had dreaded. No one cared to employ him, when it was found he could not give a satisfactory character. Reuben had not told his father and mother of his having left Mr. Akenside's factory. He clung to the hope that some fact would be brought to light that should establish his innocence, so that his parents need not learn of his trouble till its worst phase was over. But the days passed on, and no light broke through Reuben's heavy cloud of trouble. He struggled bravely with misfortune, living on as little as possible, and taking eagerly every chance job that came in his way. But the sense of undeserved reproach weighed heavily on his heart. There were times when his courage well-nigh failed, and the trial seemed indeed more than he could bear. Had God forgotten him? Was there no way of escape from this the hardest of all his temptations? One day, about three weeks after Reuben's dismissal from the factory, Reuben calling at the hospital was informed that Kate was now sufficiently recovered to see visitors, and that she had expressed a wish to see him. It was arranged that he should pay her a visit on the following Sunday afternoon.