to the _Shaw rigg_. I thought, therefore, if Archie played his old trick
of stopping by the way, perhaps poor Marion might be dead before Mr.
Armstrong could get near her; so I determined that I would just run
myself; for she was kind to me yesterday, much kinder than you know of;
for, when you were all laughing at me, (which I very well deserved) Marion
came and whispered to me that my coat was torn, and that, if I would go
into the stable, she would mend it. I thought the least I could do, in
return, now that she is in trouble, was to try to get her some advice.

"I luckily found Mr. Armstrong, and he assured me, that as soon as his
horse was saddled, he would go to her; and only think, Sir, when I came
back again, I saw Archie sitting in Robert Miller's house, drinking with
another man, I was so happy that I had gone myself! but now, Sir, that I
find I have frightened you and my mistress and dear Miss Helen, who was
not very well before, I do not know whether I ought to be glad that I went
or not." "You are a good-hearted grateful boy," said Mr. Martin, "and have
acted very properly, only you should have told some of us where you were
going, and then all would have been right." "I could not do that, Sir, for
I did not wish to tell of Archie's tricks; and I made quite sure that I
should be back long before the hour of prayer; I thought you would not
miss me till then." "Very likely I should not, had not Nelly come in
search of you; but it was very natural for her, and very proper, when she
discovered you were missing, to inform me of it."

"Here we are, my dear wife, all safe," cried Mr. Martin, when he came near
the green plat, where Mrs. Martin stood with a lantern prepared, and Nelly
ready to search for her master and John also; "all is right. John has been
on a very needful errand, and no harm is done, save the unnecessary alarm
we have been put into; he has promised me, however, to be more careful, in
future, in letting us know before he sets out on any of his errands; so