Eggar's friend had written to him, and of which Barton had heard from his uncle, old Mr. Stephens. Frank, however, did not tell his mother how near he had been to getting the place himself.

"Never mind, mother," he said, cheerfully; "depend upon it, I shall soon get out of this trouble, and then I shall go on my way smoothly enough. The light, you know, shines out clearest after darkness; and one enjoys the sunshine all the more for having had a few clouds before-hand."

"Have you been able to see the Squire, and tell your own story?" his mother asked.

"No, mother; he has gone to Ireland, and won't be back for two months. I tried to see the Steward yesterday, but he sent me word that it was Mr. Andrewes' business, and he could not interfere. It seems that he and Mr. Andrewes had a great quarrel a little while ago, and I don't think he wishes to meddle in his concerns more than he can help. I hoped Mr. Chester, the bailiff, might have said a good word for me, for he always seemed so friendly towards me; but, from what Mr. Eggar tells me, he is not disposed to interfere either.”

"And Ruth?" asked his mother.

"I have not seen her. I don't know what she thinks or says."

And Frank's face showed how much he wished he did know.

CHAPTER XV.

"Just, and strong, and opportune is the moral rule of God; Ripe in its times, firm in its judgments."

Proverbial Philosophy.

THAT week passed, and another week like it; and Frank could hear nothing which seemed likely to throw any light on the matter. A new week began. Stephen Barton had gone to Beverton. His uncle had written, to desire him to come up and speak to Mr. Johnson about the situation, and Mr. Eggar had been told that Mr. Johnson had engaged him. How he had managed to obtain a character sufficiently good to satisfy so particular a person as Mr. Johnson was represented to be, neither Frank nor the schoolmaster could discover. But they both thought the same thing-though neither of them expressed their opinion aloud-that there must have been some underhand dealing. However, Stephen had the situation, and, Mrs. Eggar pro

phesied, was not likely to keep it long,—such an idle young scape-grace as he was! Stephen, however, had made up his mind that he would neither be idle nor a scape-grace any longer. Until now, amusement had been the one object of his pursuit. He only wanted to pass away the time in the most agreeable, and the least fatiguing, manner possible, until "his old uncle should be pleased to die, and leave him his house and money."

But now his thoughts were turned into a different channel. He wished to marry Ruth Chester. He knew her father would not give her to a young man without a profession,—who had nothing to offer but expectations which might never be realised. So he resolved to turn over a new leaf, and begin to exert himself. And when he heard of Mr. Johnson's situation, and that his uncle wished him to come over and see about it, he set off at once. He knew he possessed good abilities, when he chose to take the trouble to use them. He would do so now. He would get this situation,-acquire a good standing in it, get into his uncle's good books,-marry Ruth,-inherit his uncle's property,-retire from business, and live like a gentleman; to live like a gentleman being, in Stephen's eyes, the very crown and summit of human happiness. So to Beverton he went, with these plans well-digested and settled in his mind; and he had been there about a week

when, one evening, Frank was returning from one of his visits to Briersley. Things had not mended, and did not seem likely to do so. Mr. Andrewes still refused to give him a character, and Frank had come to the conclusion that he must try and get employment without one, and was returning to tell his kind friends this, thank them for their kindness, and wish them good-by. He was sad enough, poor fellow!-for leaving Fairlegh involved leaving Ruth, and he had but little chance of getting anything worth having, without a recommendation from his former master. He was so occupied with his thoughts that, when he arrived at the schoolmaster's, he failed to remark the startled look that was on both Mr. and Mrs. Eggar's face, as they sat talking together.

"Oh, Frank, have you heard?" they both exclaimed at once.

"No," said Frank; "heard what?"

"About the accident," replied Eggar; "there has been an accident on the line, and two people killed-coming from Beverton to Ordley. Stephen Barton was there."

"And is he killed?" asked Frank, in a tone of horror; for the thought flashed across his mind how unprepared Stephen was for such an event.

"No, thank God!" said Eggar; "but they say he is badly hurt-too badly to be taken on to

Briersley, and he is lying at Ordley. They have sent for his father and mother. The doctor says it's impossible to say yet whether he will recover or not."

"Where is he hurt?" asked Frank.

"Somewhere in the head, I believe; but we have not heard any particulars. I shall go over and see about him to-morrow; and, if you have nothing else to do, I should be glad of your company, to walk there."

Frank agreed to go with Mr. Eggar; and the next day they walked to Ordley—a village about seven miles off—where lay several of the people who had been injured in the railway accident.

They found, when they reached the house where Stephen was, that he was far too ill for them to be allowed to see him. The doctor said he had received a violent concussion of the brain, and he was not supposed to be conscious. He lay in a darkened room-his mother watching beside him. She came out to speak to Mr. Eggar, and bitterly deplored the unlucky fate which, she said, always followed her and her affairs.

"Such trouble as they had had with Stephen, to get him to settle to anything! And, now that he had got a good place, and seemed disposed to take kindly to it, he must needs meet with this accident."