He was getting to the sobs that hurt his brother; and his sister was going to interfere; but Alfred said: 

’Never mind, Harold dear, we’ve been very happy together, and we’ll always love each other.  You’ll not forget Alf, and you’ll be Mother’s good son to take care of her!  Won’t you?’

So Harold gave that promise, and went away with his tears.  Poor fellow, now was his punishment for having slighted the Confirmation.  Like Esau, an exceeding bitter cry could not bring back what he had lightly thrown away.  Well was it for him that this great sorrow came in time, and that it was not altogether his birthright that he had parted with.  He found he could not go out to his potato-planting and forget all about it, as he would have liked to have done—­something would not let him; and there he was sitting crouched up and sorrowful on the steps of the stairs, when Mr. Cope and all the rest were gathered in Alfred’s room, a church for the time.  Matilda and Ellen had set out the low table with the fair white cloth, and Mr. Cope brought the small cups and paten, which were doubly precious to him for having belonged to his father, and because the last time he had seen them used had been for his father’s last Communion.

Now was the time to feel that a change had really passed over the young pastor in the time of his absence.  Before, he could only lead Alfred in his prayers, and give him counsel, tell him to hope in his repentance, and on what that hope was founded.  Now that he had bent beneath the hand of the Bishop, he had received, straight down from the Twelve, the Power from on High.  It was not Mr. Cope, but the Lord Who had purchased that Pardon by His own most Precious Blood, Who by him now declared to Alfred that the sins and errors of which he had so long repented, were pardoned and taken away.  The Voice of Authority now assured him of what he had been only told to hope and trust before.  And to make the promise all the more close and certain, here was the means of becoming a partaker of the Sacrifice—­ here was that Bread and that Cup which shew forth the Lord’s Death till He come.  It was very great rest and peace, the hush that was over the quiet room, with only Alfred’s hurried breath to be heard beside Mr. Cope’s voice as he spoke the blessed words, and the low responses of the little congregation.  Paul was close beside Alfred—­ he would have him there between his mother and the wall—­and the two whose first Communion it was, were the last to whom Mr. Cope came.  To one it was to be the Food for the passage into the unseen world; to the other might it be the first partaking of the Manna to support him through the wilderness of this life.

‘From the highways and hedges,’ here was one brought into the foretaste of the Marriage Supper.  Ah! there was one outside, who had loved idle pleasure when the summons had been sent to him.  Perhaps the misery he was feeling now might be the means of sparing him from missing other calls, and being shut out at last.