"And this indicates more than you tell me," observed Mr Ruthven. "What can you have done to drive your son from his home and from his mother's side? Some mistake there must be, to say the very least--some fatal mistake, I will call it, for I would not be severe--some awful mistake. Eh?" "Perhaps so, sir." And she smothered a sigh. The minister then gave her, at some length, his views on education, insisting much on the duty of making young people happy at home; ending with saying that no young man could, he thought, expect much comfort in the society of a mother who could be so reckless of anybody's peace as she had shewn herself that afternoon. He hoped she would take what he said in good part. It was not pleasant to him to deal rebuke but he must not shrink from it; and he rose to go. "Certainly, sir," said Annie, rising too, and holding by the bed to steady herself. "But, sir, if you would please to tell me particularly what you think I have done so wrong to-day--Sir, you would not have me let my son be made a smuggler?" "You should--Nothing can be clearer than that you should--I wonder you need to be told that you should have spoken to me. Instead of which, you went quietly and told Macdonald." "I am sure, sir, I thought you knew all about it." "What of that? I am here at hand, to be your adviser--not to be treated with disrespect. I leave you now to think over what I have said. I trust the result will be that you will make what reparation you can to Lady Carse: though it is foolish to talk of reparation; for the mischief done is, I fear, irreparable. I leave you to think of this. Good evening!" Annie thought of all that had passed; and of a few other things. She thought that while it was clear that a pastor might take a wrong view of the state of mind and conduct of one of his flock, it was a privilege to know, at least, what view he took. He was faithful, as far as plain speaking went: and that was much. And then, it is so rarely that any censure is uttered for which there is absolutely no foundation, that it is usually profitable to receive it. While feeling that "it is a small thing to be judged of man's judgment," it may be a great thing to know a man's unfavourable opinion of us. She would soon recover from this conversation; and then, if she had obtained any wisdom from it, it would be, after all, the marking blessing of this day. She was not aware of another: that Mr Ruthven had been somewhat touched by what she had said of Rollo--his eyes somewhat opened. Once more her mind rested on the idea now become so prominent with her. "The sabbath is coming round again," she thought. "It pleases God to give us a complete blessing then. It is His word that is spoken then-- His judgment that we are judged by. Nothing comes between us and Him then. There is always the sabbath now to think of."