CHAPTER 16.
One mild, sunny autumn day, when Cardross, having ended his first session at college, had spent apparently with extreme enjoyment his first vacation at home, and had just gone back again to Edinburg to commence his second "year," the Earl of Cairnforth drove down to the Manse, as he now did almost daily, for the minister was growing too feeble to come to the Castle very often.
His old pupil found him sitting in the garden, sunning himself in a sheltered nook, backed by a goodly show of China roses and fuchsias, and companioned by two or three volumes of Greek plays, in which, however, he did not read much.

He looked up with pleasure at the sound of the wheeled chair along the gravel walk.
"I'm glad you are come," said he.

"I'm sorely needing somebody, for I have scarcely seen Helen all the morning.

There she is! My lassie, where have you been these three hours ?" Helen put off his question in some gentle manner, and took her place beside her charge, or rather between her two charges, each helpless in their way, though the one most helpless once was least so now.
"Helen, something is wrong with you this morning ?" said the earl, when, Mr.Cardross having gone away for his little daily walk up and down between the garden and the kirk-yard, they two sat by themselves for a while.
Mrs.Bruce made no answer.
"Nothing can be amiss with your boy, for I had a letter from him only yesterday." "I had one this morning." "And what does he say to you?
To me little enough, merely complaining how dull he finds Edinburg now, and wishing he were back again among us all." "I do not wonder," said Helen, in a hard tone, and with that hard expression which sometimes came over her face: the earl knew it well.
"Helen, I am certain something is very wrong with you.

Why do you not tell it out to me ?" "Hush! Here comes my father!" And she hurried to him, gave him her arm, and helped his feeble steps back into the house, where for some time they three remained talking together about the little chit-chat of the parish, and the news of the family, in its various ramifications, now extending year by year.