It was so common for him to forget his meals that his absence never deranged the family.

The housekeeper, a decent old-fashioned Presbyterian matron, having, as such, the highest respect for Sampson's theological acquisitions, had it in charge on these occasions to take care that he was no sufferer by his absence of mind, and therefore usually waylaid him on his return, to remind him of his sublunary wants, and to minister to their relief.

It seldom, however, happened that he was absent from two meals together, as was the case in the present instance.

We must explain the cause of this unusual occurrence.
The conversation which Mr.Pleydell had held with Mr.Mannering on the subject of the loss of Harry Bertram had awakened all the painful sensations which that event had inflicted upon Sampson.

The affectionate heart of the poor Dominie had always reproached him that his negligence in leaving the child in the care of Frank Kennedy had been the proximate cause of the murder of the one, the loss of the other, the death of Mrs.
Bertram, and the ruin of the family of his patron.