One of the jailers came in just then and led Maggie to her cell, and as the door closed behind her Faith came slowly to her senses.

When she had revived completely, Mr. Denton led her quickly from the jail.  He was too shocked and grieved himself to wish to remain another moment.  During the ride back to the store there was hardly a word spoken in the carriage, for both Mr. Denton and Faith were in the most distressed condition of mind.

In Mr. Denton’s mind two thoughts were uppermost, his son’s wickedness in the past and his duty in the future.  At any other time he would have known how to act, but now he was sorely puzzled.  Faith, on the other hand, was hiding her face from almost shame, for she had learned a secret in that brief moment at the jail which was overwhelming her soul in a flood of self-censure.

The fair face of James Denton was constantly before her.  His pleading eyes and glances of admiration haunted her.  She felt, what she would not own even admit to herself, that in spite of his wickedness she was deeply in love with him.

“It does not seem possible,” Mr. Denton said at last.  “I know my son was thoughtless, but I did not believe him wicked.”

Faith could not speak; she was crying softly.  The knowledge of her love had completely crushed her.

“Let me go home, please,” she murmured, as her employer helped her from the carriage.  “I am afraid I am too nervous to remain at the store.”

“Certainly,” said Mr. Denton, “and I shall soon follow your example, for if my wife is as ill as my son said, it is my duty to neglect everything and remain at her bedside.”

“But has she really lost her reason?” asked Faith, a little timidly.

Mr. Denton sighed heavily before he answered.

“She is worrying unnecessarily to a great extent, I think,” he said calmly.  “She sees in my new methods and actions only the probable financial results; she cannot see that I am honestly trying to do my duty—­to share my large fortune with my fellow-beings.”

“But is it not possible to follow your conscience and still prosper?” asked Faith, anxiously.

“That is a question that I cannot answer, Miss Marvin, at this stage of the experiment, but, judging from the present outlook, godliness cannot be profitable from a worldly point of view.  But from the spiritual, I am satisfied that it is a success; the consciousness of well-doing is enough for the Christian.”

Faith pondered over his words as she hurried home.  She was glad that he had awakened a new train of thought, as it enabled her to compose herself from her late excitement.

When she reached her mother’s home she found both Mr. Watkins and Mrs. Graham, who had called to get acquainted with little Dick and to tell Mrs. Marvin their plans for his future.  It was hard to part with him, but it was clearly for the best.  Mrs. Graham could give him advantages that would be impossible to Mrs. Marvin.