" He can feel for you, for "He was tempted in all
points as we are."'
As she spoke the last words, they heard the master's voice calling loudly
for Miss Anne, and Stephen watched her run swiftly up the shrubbery and
disappear through the door. There was a great bolting and locking and
barring to be heard within, for it was rumoured that Mr. Wyley kept large
sums of money in his house, and no place in the whole country-side was
more securely fastened up by day or night. But Stephen thought of him
pacing up and down his room through the sleepless night, praying God to
have mercy upon him, yet not willing to give up his sin; and as he turned
away to the poor little cabin on the cinder-hill, there was more pity
than revenge in the boy's heart.
CHAPTER XI.
STEPHEN AND THE RECTOR.
The report of the expulsion of the family from Fern's Hollow spread
through Botfield before morning; and Stephen found an eager cluster of
men, as well as boys and girls, awaiting his appearance on the pit-bank.
There was the steady step and glance of a man about him when he came--a
grave, reserved air, which had an effect upon even the rough colliers.
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