"It does not seem long to me, Bessie; I have so much to accomplish that the time will be short. I love to look forward,--I love to think of all I shall do, of all the beautiful things I shall buy,--of all the unfortunate people I shall help. I shall succeed,--I know I shall succeed, because I shall work with all my might and main,--and also because I shall try to do so much good with my money." "Yes; but all this time where shall we be? Where shall I be?" said Bessie, sadly. "You shall come down to visit me with Aunt Faith: you have only one more year of school-life, and then you can spend a part of every winter in New York." "That will be nice," said Bessie, slowly, taking up her brush again; but, child-like, the present seemed more to her than the future. Hugh was silent, gazing out through the window 'over the summer landscape,--the pasture, the grove, and the distant lake. "Aunt Faith will miss you," said Bessie, after a pause. "Dear Aunt Faith," replied Hugh, "she does not know how much I love her! She will miss me, but I shall miss her still more. All my life she has been my guardian angel. And to think how I have deceived her!" "Oh, Hugh, such little things!" "The principle is the same. I think, before I go, I will tell her all,--all the numerous escapades we have been engaged in; then I shall have a clear conscience to start with. After I am gone, Bessie, you will not be tempted to transgress in that way, and who knows but that we shall turn out quite well-behaved people in our old age." "I have tempted you, not you me, Hugh." "Call it even, then. Why! what are you crying about, Brownie?" "You are going away,--you are going away!" was all that Bessie could say. Hugh's eyes softened as he saw his cousin's grief. "Don't cry, dear," he said gently. "We shall not be parted long. And while we are parted, I want to think that you are happy, that you, too, are trying to improve as I am trying. I want to think that my little Bessie is growing into a stately, beautiful Elizabeth. You are part of my future, dear, and you can help me to succeed." "How, Hugh?" said Bessie, wiping away her tears. "By being happy, trying to improve yourself, and writing me all you are doing. Such letters will be very pleasant to me when I am working hard in the great city. We have never, either of us, taken a serious view of life, but for once, to-day, I feel very serious, Bessie; I am going to try to be good,--I am going to try to be a good man. And I want you to try and be good too." "I will try, Hugh," whispered Bessie, affected by his serious tone.