"I don't think so. If she finds out, she must. But according to you, she's too good not to forgive you when she sees how sorry you are."
At that Jack left him, and Robert, feeling weak and sick, turned towards the door which Mary was opening.
"Has mother been expecting me?" he asked, as he stepped into the hall.
"We kept tea ever so long," replied Mary, "and at last missus said I'd better clear away, for she didn't think you were coming. Why, dear me!" she exclaimed, as for the first time, he allowed her to see his face. "If you don't look as white as a ghost!"
"I—I am not well to-night," he said, hurriedly. "Look here, Mary, I'm going straight to bed. I shall be better then. Don't you let mother know I've come in just yet. I've got an awful headache, and it's that makes me look so pale. It'll go off as soon as I can lie down, and then she won't be frightened."
"Well, I wouldn't like her to see you as you are now. Perhaps it's a sick headache you've got. I know the best thing for that is a good sleep."
Robert scarcely heard the words, he was in such fear lest his mother would come into the passage and find him. As soon as he got to his room, he began hastily to take off his clothes. For one brief moment he knelt down, but to-night he could not pray. Again the "still, small voice" within was prompting him to do what was right, regardless of consequences.
"Tell your mother all," it said; "make a clean breast of it, and then ask God to pardon you." But Robert would not confess his sin, and, sick and wretched and miserable, he got into bed.
For a little while he tossed about wearily. Then not only in his head, but in every limb, he felt the most acute pain; his whole body seemed smarting, throbbing, and burning. Suddenly a great fear took possession of him. Supposing after all he was going to die! And with that fear there came a question which banished all other thoughts, even that of the terrible sorrow and trouble he should bring upon his mother. Was he fit to die? Had he not been disobedient, deceitful, and untruthful? And was not God too holy and pure to look upon sin?
Then suddenly he remembered the words—and afterwards it seemed to him that an angel must have whispered them in his ear—"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."