"Good evening, Samuel," she said.
"Good evening, Miss Elizabeth; you do not often take a rest."
"I seldom have time."
Samuel remained silent, and the girl regarded him intently. She had long noticed his demeanour, and had often wondered as to what was on his mind.
"Samuel," she said, sympathetically, "why have you been so strange of late? Is anything the matter with you?"
Samuel cleared his throat as if to speak, shifted his feet, but said nothing.
"Do you not know," she continued, "that your class is going backward, that you often forget to set the lessons, and that half the time you are teaching you appear as if you do not know what you are doing? Tell me, is there anything on your mind? Have you done anything you are sorry for?"
Samuel again cleared his throat, shifted his feet, and with an evident effort replied:
"I have not committed any sin, but I know my work is done badly. My heart is so heavy that I can hardly bear the weight."
"What is this heaviness?"