But it was of no use now to think of what might have been. The past was beyond recall. It would lie forever behind him, a great shadow of disgrace and humiliation, which only the long years could lessen.
It was the future of which he must now think. What should that be? What should he do to-morrow, next day, next week? Could he ever retrieve the disasters he had brought upon himself? Was it possible for him to begin again at the lowest round of the ladder and toil back up into manhood?
Back and forth the young penitent walked, up and down, dashing a tear from his face now and then, never halting in his march. The minutes grew into hours; but the sleepers on the mow slept on, unconscious of the agony below them, knowing nothing of the storm that raged in their companion’s heart. But when the storm passed, the atmosphere it left was clean and pure; and when, in the small hours of the morning, the lad climbed up again to his bed of hay, his mind was fixed, and his heart was set. After that, no power could be strong enough to move him from the path that he had marked out for his feet to follow.
It was late on the following morning before the guests at the farmer’s barn descended the vertical ladder to the floor. They brushed the hay-seed from their clothing and the hay-dust from their eyes, and went over, in little groups, to the farm-house. Glück’s aunt had prepared for them a breakfast similar to the supper of the night before, only a little better and in greater variety, and they partook of it heartily and thankfully.
The strong south wind had brought up, during the night, a storm of rain, and as soon as the lads had done eating, they retired again to the shelter of the barn.
Brightly was the last to return from breakfast, and when he entered the barn he found that the boys were all waiting for him.
“We’ve agreed to leave it to you, Bright,” said one, “what we shall do. We’ve got to do something, that’s certain. To my mind we’re in a pretty bad fix.”
Brightly stood with his back to the doorpost, facing the assembly.
“I’ve been thinking the matter over a little, boys,” he replied, “and talking with Glück’s uncle about it. We’ve got to get back to Riverpark to-day some way; that’s plain, isn’t it?”