Giving way at this point to the pressure on her feelings, Mrs. Howland wept bitterly; and, greatly subdued by his mother’s grief, Andrew drew his arm around her neck, and wept with her.

“Go, dear,” said Mrs. Howland, as soon as she had recovered herself, parting the hair upon the forehead of her boy, and pressing her lips upon it—­“go, and secure your own self-approbation and my happiness, by doing as I desire.  Go, now, while your heart beats rightly.  Go, and save your mother from untold wretchedness.”

And again Mrs. Howland pressed her lips to his forehead.  Happily, she prevailed over him.  Acting from the good impulses with which she had inspired his better nature, he went to the teacher, who readily consented to take him back into the school on his promise of more orderly conduct in future.

“Andrew has gone back to school,” said Mrs. Howland to her husband, on his return home in the evening.

“Gone back to school?  I thought the teacher had expelled him.”

“Andrew went to him, and promised amendment.”

“He did?”

“Yes.  After I had talked with him a long time, he consented to do so.”

“It is well,” briefly, and with much severity in his tone, replied Mr. Howland.  He was greatly relieved at this unexpected result; although neither in word or manner did he let his real feelings appear.

CHAPTER VI.

The thought that came instantly to the mind of Andrew, when his father’s resolution to send him to sea was mentioned, was the thought of Emily Winters.  For the sake of spending daily a few quickly passing minutes with her, he had subjected himself to reprimand, punishment and disgrace.  And his mind instantly reacted against the idea of a separation such as was now threatened.  Still he was too proud and stubborn to think for a moment of retracing any of the wrong steps he had made.  Nothing but the tender appeal of his mother, whom he did indeed love, amid all his perverseness, could have subdued him.  But for the strong attachment felt for Emily, he would have received the intelligence that he was about to be sent to sea, with, pleasure.

For some time after this, Andrew’s external conduct was more orderly.  But there was so much about him to offend his easily offended father, that he did not escape for even a single day without a frown or harsh word, which soon had the effect to extinguish the few good impulses which the recent subjugation of his will had awakened.  He continued to meet Emily on his way to school, but was careful not to linger in her company go long as before.  But this pleasure was at length denied him.  A person who frequently saw them together, mentioned the fact to Mr. Winters, who immediately reproved his daughter for the association, and positively forbade its continuance.  Emily had ever been obedient to her parents in all things, and this command, grievous as it was, she felt bound to obey.  On the day after it was given, Andrew lingered for her in vain at the place where they had met daily, until after his school hour.  On the next morning he was there earlier than usual, and waited until past his school hour again.  But she did not come.  Strictly obedient to her parents, she had gone another way so as to avoid the meeting.