he wished to possess them, being unaccustomed to spend so much money as their purchase would involve without consulting Margaret or some one at home. But Godfrey succeeded in laughing away his hesitation, and in arguing him into the belief that it was silly and childish not to act on his own responsibility, telling him he was "just like a little girl," &c.

Margaret, as may be imagined, was especially indignant with Godfrey; and she spoke in such plain terms to him of his conduct, that he actually did look somewhat crest-fallen. She then told him to come with her, and take the two rabbits and return them to the man; and added-"I trust you may never again act as you have done in this matter."

He came back with her to the rabbit-hutch, from which he took, as he was desired, the black rabbits so prized by Oliver. When Margaret reached her own room again, Maude came to her to say that Oliver had been asking whether she thought a person might break promises if they never ought to have made them. "He is very unhappy," added Maude. "I am sure there is something he wants to tell you."

Margaret went to him directly, and told him about her having seen Godfrey and heard from him the cause of the secrecy; which of course put all further necessity for keeping his promises at an end.

Oliver was greatly relieved.

"God

"I never thought of doing any thing wrong when I first made the promises," he said. frey told me his uncle was so very unkind, and that he had no pleasures and no companions, and he said he knew I should be sorry for him. I wanted to tell you all about it yesterday, and that was why I went out from the library. I had pro

mised to go to meet him."

"It is certainly very right to keep promises, for, as I have often told you, it is wrong to break one's word; but while you are young it cannot be right to promise to conceal things from those who have the charge of you. Your having promised not to mention that Godfrey had spoken to you, is not the most wrong thing that you have done. Do you think it was right to continue an acquaintance with a boy of whom you knew nothing whatever, without asking my permission? You see how one fault has led to many."

"But he just talked to me that morning, and then he said I must on no account tell you or any one, for fear of his uncle hearing of it; and then he said he would tell me a secret if I would not say any thing about it; and I said I would not before I thought what I was doing."

"I can quite believe that, Oliver; but what you did afterwards is by far the worst part of the affair. What made you say I wished to make a baby of you?"

"Godfrey said so."

"And is Godfrey a better judge of what is right

for you than your mother or myself? You would have been far more of a man, and far less of a baby, if you had told him you did not mind what he called you, for you were determined to do right. I had thought I might trust you when out of my sight. I thought you would not do any thing of which you would be ashamed to tell me ; but what am I to think now? Did you really intend to go to the fair with Godfrey?"

"No, I am sure I should not have gone; but he said he wanted me just to go to where the rabbits and birds would be."

"I am glad to hear that; but you see, Oliver, when once you allow yourself to be led astray, it is very difficult to say 'no,' however much you may wish it."

"I never will do so again."

"I hope you never will; but unless you really try hard to keep in the right way you will not find it possible, for you may be often tempted to do wrong by bad companions. It is temptation which shows us what we are. You made acquaintance with Godfrey, and then made a companion of him, because he tempted you into doing so; which may show you how easily you can be drawn into doing what your mother would disapprove. You thought yourself a good, obedient boy, I believe, while no one tempted you to be disobedient. If I tied you to a chair, and told you not to move, could I then tell whether you were obedient?”

"No."

"But if some one came and cut the cords, and begged you to get up, and you would not, should I then know whether you were obedient?"

"Yes."

"Then, Oliver, you see by what has happened that I can neither consider you obedient or trustworthy."

He burst out crying, begging her to forgive him, and saying he was very sorry. He did seem thoroughly repentant, and she put her arm round him, and drew him close to her, and kissed him. She hoped, she said, that God, who could bring good out of evil, would make him remember the lesson he had had, so that it might make him for the future more watchful and careful. not but feel deeply thankful that she had discovered and put an end to the acquaintance with Godfrey before it had gone farther, and she severely reproached herself for not having been more particular in knowing whom he was with, and what he was about, when out of her sight.

She could

CHAPTER XVII.

"One sentence he uttered which I hope never to forget. It taught us the sole remedy against rebellious thoughts: L'humilité s'interdit les pourquoi.''

IKE the rest of his fellow-mortals, William

Stourton found his life was not exempt from trials and difficulties. He had thought himself especially fortunate in becoming curate to so agreeable and kind-hearted a man as Mr. Leslie; but, before many weeks had elapsed, he would willingly have bartered a little of his rector's good nature for something more akin to asperity, provided only there was coupled with it a certain proportion of zealous energy.

To the young and enthusiastic few things are harder to endure than the imperturbable calmness of those in authority over them; who have either outlived the ardour of youth, and forgotten the important aspect in which those things they wished once to accomplish appeared to their young imaginations; or are by nature of a calm quiescent temperament, which, taking both sides of a question into cool consideration, prefers to remain "in statu quo," rather than encounter the troubles or