You must write home for the money, and confess the truth to them honestly, as you have to me." It was a hard course for Eric's proud and loving heart to write and tell his aunt the full extent of his guilt.

But he did it faithfully, extenuating nothing, and entreating her, as she loved him, to send the money by return of post.
It came, and with it a letter full of deep and gentle affection.

Mrs.
Trevor knew her nephew's character, and did not add by reproaches to the bitterness which she perceived he had endured; she simply sent him the money, and told him, that in spite of his many failures, "she still had perfect confidence in the true heart of her dear boy." Touched by the affection which all seemed to be showing him, it became more and more the passionate craving of Eric's soul to be worthy of that love.

But it is far, far harder to recover a lost path than to keep in the right one all along; and by one more terrible fall, the poor erring boy was to be taught for the last time the fearful strength of temptation, and the only source in earth and heaven from which deliverance can come.

Theoretically he knew it, but as yet not practically.