"Oh yes! I think upon the whole you need a little rest," was the reply, and the boy waited for nothing further.
Mrs. Danforth noticed that he ate very sparingly, and soon retired to his room, where he dressed himself in his Sunday suit.
"Where are you going, my dear?" she asked, in surprise.
"To Mr. Clarkson's first," was his reply. "I have leave of absence for the afternoon."
"It is very warm," she urged. "Why can't you wait awhile?"
He hesitated a moment, as if about to say something, and then went out as if he had not heard her remark. But presently he came back, and said, "Mother, I have something very painful to do this afternoon, and I want you to pray for me, that I may be directed to do what is right. I can't tell you now, but I shall before long, and then I hope I shall be happy again."
"O, my son! what can it be! I hope you have not been left to do wrong. O, Harrison! tell me, whatever it is! I had rather know it at once. I can't endure the suspense."
"I will tell you to-night, mother. Please pray for me till then." And he went out leaving her crushed almost to the dust with sorrow, fearing that her darling boy, her only earthly hope and dependence, had been left to commit some great crime. Yes, she saw it all; she realized now that his plea of urgent business at the store was but an excuse to be away from home, where the stings of conscience were doubly hard to endure. She retired to her own closet, and, falling on her knees, cried out in agony, "O, my God! forgive him, whatever he has done; lead him to repent humbly, and to begin this very day a new life!"
Then she tried to recall his exact words, "Pray, for me that I may be directed to do what is right." He was about then to confess his guilt, and that was why he hoped for happiness afterwards. But why go to Mr. Clarkson. Alas! all was dark and drear, and shrouded in mystery. Sometimes she thought she would follow her son to Mr. Clarkson's, and force from him the dreadful truth. She passed the time in alternate prayers and groans and tears.
If Harrison had not been so much absorbed, he would have relieved his mother so far as his own conduct was concerned, if he thought the time had not arrived to tell her the whole truth. But, conscious of his own innocence, he did not realize her anxiety for him.