"Mother, has any one been here since we left?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Was it Mr. Parris?"
"It was."
"We saw him come out of the church as we passed."
"He was here but a moment since."
Then Charles felt that something had been said to his mother to occasion alarm, and he asked her what it was.
"He advised me to warn you to flee from the wrath to come. He said you would be involved in ruin ere you knew it, if you continued in your present course."
"What did he mean?"
"He referred to her," and Mrs. Stevens significantly nodded toward the apartment in which Cora was. Charles had expected this answer. He went slowly to the door and looked down the road to see if the pastor was still in sight; but he was not. Only the broad, well-beaten thoroughfare, with the great, old trees standing on either side, and the blue sea beyond the hill, with the village in the valley were visible. The youth's heart was full of bitterness, and the manner in which his mother's words were spoken was not calculated to allay the storm within his breast. Though her words did not say so, her manner indicated that she shared the opinions of Mr. Parris. Turning from the door, Charles went toward her and said: