She stood motionless lest she might wake him.  He did not stir, and she heard his low, regular breathing, and knew that all was well.  Then she turned as noiselessly as she had entered, and went out, leaving him to peaceful sleep—­to dreams—­to the sighing of the pines.

Hope Wayne went quietly to her room, which was next to the one in which Gabriel lay.  Her kind heart had sent her to see that he wanted nothing.  She thought of him only as a boy who had had the worst of a quarrel, and she pitied him.  Was it then, indeed, only pity for the victim that knocked gently at his door?  Was she really thinking of the conqueror when she went to comfort the conquered?  Was she not trying somehow to help Abel by doing all she could to alleviate the harm he had done?

Hope Wayne asked herself no questions.  She was conscious of a curious excitement, and the sighing of the pines lulled her to sleep.  But all night long she dreamed of Abel Newt, with bare head and clustering black hair, gracefully bowing, and murmuring excuses; and oh! so manly, oh! so heroic he looked as he carefully helped to lay Gabriel in the carriage.

CHAPTER IX.

NEWS FROM HOME.

Abel found a letter waiting for him when he returned to the school.  He tore it open and read it: 

“MY DEAR ABEL,—­You have now nearly reached the age at which, by your grandfather’s direction, you were to leave school and enter upon active life.  Your grandfather, who had known and respected Mr. Gray in former years, left you, as you know, a sum sufficient for your education, upon condition of your being placed at Mr. Gray’s until your nineteenth birthday.  That time is approaching.  Upon your nineteenth birthday you will leave school.  Mr. Gray gives me the best accounts of you.  My plans for you are not quite settled.  What are your own wishes?  It is late for you to think of college; and as you will undoubtedly be a business man, I see no need of your learning Greek or writing Latin poetry.  At your age I was earning my own living.  Your mother and the family are well.  Your affectionate father,

“BONIFACE NEWT.

“P.S.—­Your mother wishes to add a line.”

“DEAR ABEL,—­I am very glad to hear from Mr. Gray of your fine progress in study, and your general good character and deportment.  I trust you give some of your leisure to solid reading.  It is very necessary to improve the mind.  I hope you attend to religion.  It will help you if you keep a record of Dr. Peewee’s texts, and write abstracts of his sermons.  Grammar, too, and general manners.  I hear that you are very self-possessed, which is really good news.  My friend Mrs. Beacon was here last week, and she says you bow beautifully!  That is a great deal for her to admit, for her son Bowdoin is one of the most elegant and presentable young men I have ever seen.  He is very gentlemanly indeed.  He and Alfred Dinks have been here for