He had no satisfying intelligence to offer, nor any words of comfort that it would be of avail to speak.
Thus the greater portion of that long remembered night was passed--Mrs.Howland sitting at the window, vainly waiting and watching for her son, and Mr.Howland walking the floor of the room, his mind given up to troubled and rebuking thoughts.

In his hardness and self-will he had justified himself up to this in his course of conduct pursued toward his children; but he was in doubt now.

A question as to whether he had been right or not had come into his mind, and disturbed him to the very centre..