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knew no more of his deaigns than he thought proper to communicate, saw that the dwarf perfectly understood their relative position, and fully entered into the charac ter of his friend. It is something to be appreciated, even in knavery. This silent homage to his superior abilities, no less than a sense of the power with which the dwarf's quick perception had already invested him, inclined the young man towards that ugly worthy, and determined him to profit by his aid.

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"Of course I have, dear Fred," said Quilp, grinning to think how little he suspected what the real end was. It's retaliation perhaps; perhaps whim. I have influence, Fred, to help or oppose. Which way shall I use it? There are a pair of scales, and it goes into one."

"Throw it into mine then," said Trent.

"It's done, Fred," rejoined Quilp, stretching out his clenched hand and opening it as if he had let some weight fall out. It's in the scale from this time and turns it, Fred. Mind that."

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Where have they gone?" asked Trent.

It being now Mr. Quilp's cue to change the subject with all convenient expedition, lest Richard Swiveller in his heedlessness should reveal anything which it was inexpedient for the women to know, he proposed a game Quilp shook his head, and said that point remained to at four-handed cribbage; and partners being cut for, Mrs. be discovered, which it might be, easily. When it was, Quilp fell to Frederick Trent, and Dick himself to Quilp. they would begin their preliminary advances. He would Mrs. Jiniwin being very fond of cards was carefully ex- visit the old man, or even Richard Swiveller might visit cluded by her son-in-law from any participation in the him, and by affecting a deep concern in his behalf and game, and had assigned to her the duty of occasionally imploring him to settle in some worthy home, lead to the replenishing the glasses from the case-bottle; Mr. Quilp child's remembering him with gratitude and favour. Once from that moment keeping one eye constantly upon her, impressed to this extent, it would be easy, he said, to win lest she should by any means procure a taste of the same, her in a year or two, for she supposed the old man to be and thereby tantalising the wretched old lady (who was poor, as it was a part of his jealous policy (in common as much attached to the case-bottle as the cards) in a with many other misers) to feign to be so, to those about double degree and most ingenious manner. him.

"He has feigned it often enough to me, of late," said Trent.

"Oh! and to me too!" replied the dwarf. "Which is more extraordinary, as I know how rich he really is." "I suppose you should," said Trent.

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I think I should indeed," rejoined the dwarf: and in that, at least, he spoke the truth.

night.

But it was not to Mrs. Jiniwin alone that Mr. Quilp's attention was restricted, as several other matters required his constant vigilance. Among his various eccentric habits he had a humorous one of always cheating at cards, which rendered necessary on his part, not only a close observance of the game, and a sleight-of-hand in counting and scoring, but also involved the constant correction, by looks and frowns, and kicks under the table, of Richard After a few more whispered words, they returned to Swiveller, who being bewildered by the rapidity with the table, and the young man rousing Richard Swiveller which his cards were told, and the rate at which the pegs informed him that he was waiting to depart. This was travelled down the board, could not be prevented from welcome news to Dick, who started up directly. After a sometimes expressing his surprise and incredulity. Mrs. few words of confidence in the result of their project had Quilp too was the partner of young Trent, and for every been exchanged, they bade the grinning Quilp good look that passed between them, and every word they spoke, and every card they played, the dwarf had eyes Quilp crept to the window as they passed in the street and ears; not occupied alone with what was passing below, and listened. Trent was pronouncing an encomiabove the table, but with signals that might be exchang. um upon his wife, and they were both wondering by ing beneath it, which he laid all kinds of traps to detect; what enchantment she had been brought to marry such a besides often treading on his wife's toes to see whether misshapen wretch as he. The dwarf, after watching their she cried out or remained silent under the infliction, in retreating shadows with a wider grin than his face had which latter case it would have been quite clear that yet displayed, stole softly in the dark to bed. Trent had been treading on her toes before. Yet, in the In this hatching of their scheme, neither Trent nor most of all these distractions, the one eye was upon the Quilp had had one thought about the happiness or misery old lady always, and if she so much as stealthily advanc- of poor innocent Nell. It would have been strange if ed a tea-spoon towards a neighbouring glass (which she the careless profligate, who was the butt of both, had been often did,) for the purpose of abstracting but one sup of harassed by any such consideration ; for his high opinion its sweet contents, Quilp's hand would overset it in the of his own merits and deserts rendered the project rather very moment of her triumph, and Quilp's mocking voice a laudable one than otherwise; and if he had been visited implore her to regard her precious health. And in any by so unwonted a guest as reflection, he would-being a one of these his many cares, from first to last, Quilp never brute only in the gratification of his appetites-have flagged nor faltered. soothed his conscience with the plea that he did not

At length, when they had played a great many rubbers mean to beat or kill his wife, and would therefore, after and drawn pretty freely upon the case-bottle, Mr. Quilp all said and done, be a very tolerable, average husband. warned his lady to retire to rest, and that submissive wife complying, and being followed by her indignant mother, Mr. Swiveller fell asleep. The dwarf beckoning his remaining companion to the other end of the room, held a short conference with him in whispers.

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"It's well not to say more than one can help before our worthy friend," said Quilp, making a grimace towards the slumbering Dick. Is it a bargain between us, Fred? Shall he marry little rosy Nell bye and bye?" You have some end of your own to answer of course," returned the other.

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CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH.

no longer maintain the pace at which they had fled from It was not until they were quite exhausted and could the race-ground, that the old man and the child ventured to stop, and sit down to rest upon the borders of a little wood. Here, though the course was hidden from their view, they could yet faintly distinguish the noise of distant shouts, the hum of voices, and the beating of drums.

Climbing the eminence which lay between them and the spot they had left, the child could even discern the fluttering flags and white tops of booths; but no person was approaching towards them, and their resting-place was solitary and still.

Some time elapsed before she could reassure her trembling companion, or restore him to a state of moderate tranquillity. His disordered imagination represented to him a crowd of persons stealing towards them beneath the cover of the bushes, lurking in every ditch, and peeping from the boughs of every rustling tree. He was haunted by apprehensions of being led captive to some gloomy place where he would be chained and scourged, and worse than all, where Nell could never come to see him, save through iron bars and gratings in the wall. His terrors affected the child. Separation from her grandfather was the greatest evil she could dread; and feeling for the time as though, go where they would, they were to be hunted down, and could never be safe but in hiding, her heart failed her, and her courage drooped.

In one so young, and so unused to the scenes in which she had lately moved, this sinking of the spirit was not surprising. But, nature often enshrines gallant and noble hearts in weak bosoms-oftenest, God bless her, in female breasts-and when the child, casting her tearful eyes upon the old man, remembered how weak he was, and how destitute and helpless he would be if she failed him, her heart swelled within her, and animated her with new strength and fortitude.

"We are quite safe now, and have nothing to fear indeed, dear grandfather," she said.

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Then how," said the old man, looking fearfully round, "how can you bear to think that we are safe, when they are searching for me everywhere, and may come here, and steal upon us, even while we're talking?"

silence, or watch the sun as it trembled through the leaves, and stealing in among the ivied trunks of stout old trees, opened long paths of light. As they passed onward, parting the boughs that clustered in their way, the serenity which the child had first assumed, stole into her breast in earnest; the old man cast no longer fearful looks behind, but felt at ease and cheerful, for the further they passed into the deep green shade, the more they felt that the tranquil mind of God was there, and shed its peace on them.

At length the path becoming clearer and less intricate, brought them to the end of the wood, and into a public road. Taking their way along it for a short distance, they came to a lane, so shaded by the trees on either hand that they met together over-head, and arched the narrow way. A broken finger-post announced that this led to a village three miles off; and thither they resolved to bend their steps.

The miles appeared so long that they sometimes thought they must have missed their road. But at last, to their great joy, it led downward in a steep descent, with overhanging banks over which the footpaths led; and the clustered houses of the village peeped out from the woody hollow below.

It was a very small place. The men and boys were playing at cricket on the green; and as the other folks were looking on, they wandered up and down, uncertain where to seek a humble lodging. There was but one old man in the little garden before his cottage, and him they were timid of approaching, for he was the schoolmaster, and had "school" written up over his window in black letters on a white board. He was a pale, simplelooking man, of a spare and meagre habit, and sat among his flowers and beehives, smoking his pipe, in the little porch before his door.

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They waited, but the schoolmaster cast no look towards them, and still sat, thoughtful and silent, in the little porch. He had a kind face. In his plain old suit of "Because I'm sure we have not been followed," said black, he looked pale and meagre. They fancied, too, a the child. "Judge for yourself, dear grandfather; look lonely air about him and his house, but perhaps that was round, and see how quiet and still it is. We are alone because the other people formed a merry company upon together, and may ramble where we like. Not safe! the green, and he seemed the only solitary man in all the Could I feel easy-did I feel at ease-when any danger threatened you?"

place.

They were very tired, and the child would have been "True, true," he answered, pressing her hand, but bold enough to address even a schoolmaster, but for still looking anxiously about. "What noise was that?" something in his manner which seemed to denote that "A bird," said the child, "flying into the wood, and he was uneasy or distressed. As they stood hesitating leading the way for us to follow. You remember that at a little distance, they saw that he sat for a few minutes we said we would walk in woods and fields, and by the at a time like one in a brown study, then laid aside his side of rivers, and how happy we would be-you remember that? But here, while the sun shines above our heads, and every thing is bright and happy, we are sitting sadly down, and losing time. See what a pleasant path; and there's the bird-the same bird-now he flies to another tree, and stays to sing. Come!"

pipe and took a few turns in his garden, then approached the gate and looked towards the green, then took up his pipe again with a sigh, and sat down thoughtfully as before.

As nobody else appeared and it would soon be dark, Nell at length took courage, and when he had resumed his pipe and seat, ventured to draw near, leading her When they rose up from the ground, and took the grandfather by the hand. The slight noise they made in shady track which led them through the wood, she bound-raising the latch of the wicket-gate, caught his attention. ed on before; printing her tiny footsteps in the moss, He looked at them kindly but seemed disappointed too, which rose elastic from so light a pressure and gave it and slightly shook his head. back as mirrors throw off breath; and thus she lured the old man on, with many a backward look and merry beck, now pointing stealthily to some lone bird as it perched and twittered on a branch that strayed across their path, now stopping to listen to the songs that broke the happy

Nell dropped a curtsey, and told him they were poor travellers who sought a shelter for the night which they would gladly pay for, so far as their means allowed. The schoolmaster looked earnestly at her as she spoke, laid aside his pipe, and rose up directly.

"If you could direct us anywhere, sir," said the child, "we should take it very kindly."

"You have been walking a long way," said the schoolmaster.

"A long way, sir," the child replied.

"You're a young traveller, my child," he said, laying his hand gently on her head. "Your grandchild,

friend?"

"Aye, sir," cried the old man, "and the stay and comfort of my life."

"Come in," said the schoolmaster.

Without further preface he conducted them into his little sohool-room, which was parlour and kitchen likewise, and told them they were welcome to remain under his roof till morning. Before they had done thanking him, he spread a coarse white cloth upon the table, with knives and platters; and bringing out some bread and cold meat and a jug of beer, besought them to eat and drink.

The child looked round the room as she took her seat. There were a couple of forms, notched and cut and inked all over; a small deal desk perched on four legs, at which no doubt the master sat; a few dog's-eared books upon a high shelf; and beside them a motley collection of pegtops, balls, kites, fishing-lines, marbles, half-eaten apples, and other confiscated property of idle urchins. Displayed on hooks upon the wall in all their terrors, were the cane and ruler; and near them, on a small shelf of its own, the dunce's cap, made of old newspapers and decorated with glaring wafers of the largest size. But, the great ornaments of the walls, were certain moral sentences fairly copied in good round text, and well-worked sums in simple addition and multiplication, evidently achieved by the same hand, which were plentifully pasted all round the room; for the double purpose, as it seemed, of bearing testimony to the excellence of the school, and kindling a worthy emulation in the bosoms of the scholars.

"Yes," said the old schoolmaster, observing that her attention was caught by these latter specimens. "That's beautiful writing, my dear."

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Very, sir," replied the child modestly, " is it yours!" "Mine!" he returned, taking out his spectacles and putting them on, to have a better view of the triumphs so dear to his heart. "I couldn't write like that, now-adays. No. They're all done by one hand; a little hand it is, not so old as yours, but a very clever one."

As the schoolmaster said this, he saw that a small blot of ink had been thrown on one of the copies, so he took a penknife from his pocket, and going up to the wall, carefully scraped it out. When he had finished, he walked slowly backward from the writing, admiring it as one might contemplate a beautiful picture, but with something of sadness in his voice and manner which quite touched the child, though she was unacquainted with its

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"I hope there is nothing the matter, sir," said Nell anxiously.

"Has he been ill?" asked the child, with a child's quick sympathy.

"Not very. They said he was wandering in his head yesterday, dear boy, and so they said the day before. But that's a part of that kind of disorder; it's not a bad sign not at all a bad sign."

The child was silent. He walked to the door, and looked wistfully out. The shadows of night were gathering, and all was still.

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"If he could lean upon any body's arm, he would come t me, I know," he said, returning into the room. He always came into the garden to say good night. But perhaps his illness has only just taken a favourable turn, and it's too late for him to come out, for its very damp and there's a heavy dew. It's much better he shoul.t come to-night."

The schoolmaster lighted a candle, fastened the window-shutter, and closed the door. But after he had done this, and sat silent a little time, he took down his hat, and said he would go and satisfy himself, if Nell would sit up till he returned. The child readily complied, and he went out.

She sat there half-an-hour or more, feeling the place very strange and lonely, for she had prevaile upon the old man to go to bed, and there was nothing to be heard but the ticking of an old clock, and the whistling of the wind among the trees. When he returned, he took his seat in the chimney-corner, but remained silent for a long time. At length he turned to her, and speaking very gently, hoped she would say a prayer that night for a sick child.

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My favourite scholar!" said the poor schoolmaster, smoking a pipe he had forgotten to light, and looking mournfully round upon the walls. "It is a little hand to have done all that, and waste away with sickness. It is a very, very, little hand!"

CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH.

After a sound night's rest in a chamber in the thatched roof, in which it seemed the sexton had for some years been a lodger, but which he had lately deserted for a wife and a cottage of his own, the child rose early in the morning and descended to the room where she had supped last night. As the schoolmaster had already left his bed and gone out, she bestirred herself to make it neat and comfortable, and had just finished its arrangement when the kind host returned.

He thanked her many times, and said that the old dame who usually did such offices for him had gone to nurse the little scholar whom he had told her of. The child asked how he was, and hoped he was better.

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No," rejoined the schoolmaster, shaking his head sorrowfully, "no better. They even say he is worse." "I am very sorry for that, sir," said the child.

The poor schoolmaster appeared to be gratified by her earnest manner, but yet rendered more uneasy by it, for he added hastily that anxious people often magnified an evil and thought it greater than it was; "for my part," he said, in his quiet, patient way, "I hope it's not so. I don't think he can be worse."

The child asked his leave to prepare breakfast, and "Not much my dear," returned the schoolmaster. "I her grandfather coming down stairs they all three parhoped to have seen him on the green to-night. He was took of it together. While the meal was in progress, always foremost among them. But he'll be there to- their host remarked that the old man seemed much famorrow." tigued, and evidently stood in need of rest,

"If the journey you have before you is a long one," he said, "and don't press you for one day, you're very welcome to pass another night here. I should really be glad if you would, friend."

He saw that the old man looked at Nell, uncertain whether to accept or decline his offer; and added,

"I shall be glad to have your young companion with me for one day. If you can do a charity to a lone man, and rest yourself at the same time, do so. If you must proceed upon your journey, I wish you well through it, and will walk a little way with you before school begins." "What are we to do, Nell," said the old man irresolutely," say what we're to do, dear."

It required no great persuasion to induce the child to answer that they had better accept the invitation and remain. She was happy to show her gratitude to the kind schoolmaster by busying herself in the performance of such household duties as his little cottage stood in need of. When these were done, she took some needle-work from her basket, and sat herself down upon a stool beside the lattice, where the honeysuckle and woodbine entwined their tender stems, and stealing into the room filled it with their delicious breath. Her grandfather was basking in the sun outside, breath ng the perfume of the flowers, and idly watching the clouds as they floated on before the light summer wind.

As the schoolmaster, after arranging the two forms in due order, took his seat behind his desk and made other preparations for school, the child was apprehensive that she might be in the way, and offered to withdraw to her little bed-room. But this he would not allow, and as he seemed pleased to have her there, she remained, busying herself with her work.

"Have you many scholars, sir ?" she asked.

The poor schoolmaster shook his head, and said that they barely filled the two forms.

"Are the others clever, sir ?" asked the child, glancing at the trophies on the wall.

Then began the hum of conning over lessons and getting them by heart, the whispered jest and stealthy game, and all the noise and drawl of school; and in the midst of the din sat the poor schoolmaster, the very image of meekness and simplicity, vainly attempting to fix his mind upon the duties of the day, and to forget his little friend. But the tedium of his office reminded him more strongly of the willing scholar, and his thoughts were rambling from his pupils-it was plain.

None knew this better than the idlest boys, who, growing bolder with impunity, waxed louder and more daring; playing odd-or-even under the master's eye, eating apples openly and without rebuke, pinching each other in sport or malice without the least reserve, and cutting their autographs in the very legs of his desk. The puzzled dunce, who stood beside it to say his lesson out of book, looked no longer at the ceiling for forgotten words, but drew closer to the master's elbow and boldly cast his eye upon the page; the wag of the little troop squinted and made grimaces (at the smallest boy of course), holding no book before his face, and his approving audience knew no constraint in their delight. If the master did chance to rouse himself and seem alive to what was going on, the noise subsided for a moment and no eyes met his but wore a studious and a deeply humble look; but the instant he relapsed again, it broke out afresh, and ten times louder than before.

Oh! how some of those idle fellows longed to be outside, and how they looked at the open door and window, as if they half meditated rushing violently out, plunging into the woods, and being wild boys and savages from that time forth. What rebellious thoughts of the cool river, and some shady bathing place beneath willow trees with branches dipping in the water, kept tempting and urging that sturdy boy, who, with his shirt-collar unbuttoned and flung back as far as it could go, sat fanning his flushed face with a spelling-book, wishing himself a whale, or a tittlebat, or a fly, or any thing but a

"Good boys," returned the schoolmaster, "good boys boy at school on that hot, broiling day! Heat! ask enough, my dear, but they'll never do like that."

A small white-headed boy with a sunburnt face appeared at the door while he was speaking, and stopping there to make a rustic bow, came in and took his seat upon one of the forms. The white-headed boy then ut an open book, astonishingly dog's-eared, upon his knees, and thrusting his hands into his pockets began counting the marbles with which they were filled; displaying in the expression of his face a remarkable capacity of totally abstracting his mind from the spelling on which his eyes were fixed. Soon afterwards another white-headed little boy came straggling in, and after him a red-headed lad, and after him two more with white heads, and then one with a flaxen poll, and so on until the forms were occupied by a dozen boys or thereabouts, with heads of every colour but grey, and ranging in their ages from four years old to fourteen years or more; for the legs of the youngest were a long way from the floor when he sat upon the form, and the eldest was a heavy good-tempered foolish fellow, about half a head taller than the schoolmaster.

At the top of the first form-the post of honour in the school-was the vacant place of the little sick scholar, and at the head of the row of pegs on which those who came in hats or caps were wont to hang them up, one was left empty. No boy attempted to violate the sanctity of seat or peg, but many a one looked from the empty spaces to the schoolmaster, and whispered his idle neighbour behind his hand.

that other boy, whose seat being nearest to the door, gave him opportunities of gliding out into the garden and driving his companions to madness by dipping his face into the bucket of the well and then rolling on the grass

ask him if there were ever such a day as that, when even the bees were diving deep down into the cups of flowers and stopping there, as if they had made up their minds to retire from business and be manufacturers of honey no more. The day was made for laziness, and lying on one's back in green places, and staring at the sky till its brightness forced one to shut one's eyes and go to sleep; and was this a time to be poring over musty books in a dark room, slighted by the very sun itself? Monstrous !

Nell sat by the window occupied with her work, but attentive still to all that passed, though sometimes rather timid of the boisterous boys. The lessons over, writing time began; and there being but one desk and that the master's, each boy sat at it in turn and laboured at his crooked copy, while the master walked about. This was a quieter time; for he would come and look over the writer's shoulder, and tell him mildly to observe how such a letter was turned in such a copy on the wall, praise such an up-stroke here and such a down-stroke there, and bid him take it for his model. Then he would stop and tell them what the sick child had said last night, and how he had longed to be among them once again; and such was the poor schoolmaster's gentle and affec tionate manner, that the boys seemed quite remorseful

that they had worried him so much, and were absolutely would naturally expect to have an opposition started quiet; eating no apples, cutting no names, inflicting no against him; there was no want of idle chaps in that pinches, and making no grimaces, for full two minutes neighbourhood (here the old lady raised her voice), and afterwards. some chaps who were too idle even to be schoolmasters, might soon find that there were other chaps put over their heads, and so she would have them take care, and look pretty sharp about them. But all these taunts and vexations failed to elicit one word from the meek schoolmaster, who sat with the child by his side, a little more dejected perhaps, but quite silent and uncomplaining.

"I think, boys," said the schoolmaster when the clock struck twelve," that I shall give an extra half-holiday this afternoon."

At this intelligence, the boys, led on and headed by the tall boy, raised a great shout, in the midst of which the master was seen to speak, but could not be heard. As he held up his hand, however, in token of his wish that they should be silent, they were considerate enough to leave off, as soon as the longest-winded among them were quite out of breath.

"You must promise me first," said the schoolmaster, "that you'll not be noisy, or at least, if you are, that you'll go away and be so-away out of the village I mean. I'm sure you wouldn't disturb your old play mate and companion."

Towards night an old woman came tottering up the garden as speedily as she could, and meeting the schoolmaster at the door, said he was to go to Dame West's directly, and had best run on before her. He and the child were on the point of going out together for a walk, and without relinquishing her hand, the schoolmaster hurried away, leaving the messenger to follow as she might.

They stopped at a cottage-door, and the schoolmaster There was a general murmur, (and perhaps a very knocked softly at it with his band. It was opened withsincere one, for they were but boys) in the negative; out loss of time. They entered a room where a little and the tall boy, perhaps as sincerely as any of them, group of women were gathered about one, older than the called those about him to witness that he had only shout-rest, who was crying very bitterly, and sat wringing her ed in a whisper.

"Then pray don't forget, there's my dear scholars," said the schoolmaster," what I have asked you, and do it as a favour to me. Be as happy as you can, and don't be unmindful that you are blessed with health. Good bye all!"

"Thank'ee sir," and "good bye sir," were said a great many times in a variety of voices, and the boys went out very slowly and softly. But there was the sun shining and there were the birds singing, as the sun only shines and the birds only sing on holidays and half-holidays; there were the trees waving to all free boys to climb and nestle among their leafy branches; the hay, entreating them to come and scatter it to the pure air; the green corn, gently beckoning towards wood and stream; the smooth ground, rendered smoother still by blending lights and shadows, inviting to runs and leaps, and long walks God knows whither. It was more than boy could bear, and with a joyous whoop the whole cluster took to their heels and spread themselves about, shouting and laugh- | ing as they went.

hands and rocking herself to and fro.

Oh dame!" said the schoolmaster, drawing near her chair, "is it so bad as this?"

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He's going fast," cried the old woman; "my grandson's dying. It's all along of you. You shouldn't see him now, but for his being so earnest on it. This is what his learning has brought him to. Oh dear, dear, dear, what can I do!"

"Do not say that I am in any fault," urged the gentle schoolmaster. "I am not hurt, dame. No, no. You are in great distress of mind, and don't mean what you say. I am sure you don't."

"I do," returned the old woman. "I mean it all. If he hadn't been poring over his books out of fear of you, he would have been well and merry now, I know he would."

The schoolmaster looked round upon the other women as if to entreat some one among them to say a kind word for him, but they shook their heads, and murmured to each other that they never thought there was much good in learning, and that this convinced them. With

"It's natural, thank Heaven!" said the poor school-out saying a word in reply, or giving them a look of remaster looking after them. “I am very glad they didn't mind me!"

proach, he followed the old woman who had summoned him (and who had now rejoined them) into another room, where his infant friend, half dressed, lay stretched upon a bed.

He was a very young boy; quite a little child. His hair still hung in curls about his face, and his eyes were very bright; but their light was of Heaven, not earth. The schoolmaster took a seat beside him, and stooping over the pillow, whispered his name. The boy sprung up, stroked his face with his hand, and threw his wasted arms around his neck, crying out that he was his dear kind friend.

It is difficult, however, to please everybody, as most of us would have discovered, even without the fable which bears that moral; and in the course of the afternoon several mothers and aunts of pupils looked in to express their entire disapproval of the schoolmaster's proceeding. A few confined themselves to hints, such as politely inquiring what red-letter day or saint's day the almanac said it was; a few (these were the profound village politicians) argued that it was a slight to the throne and an affront to church and state, and savoured of revolutionary principles, to grant a half-holiday upon any lighter occasion than the birthday of the monarch; but the majority expressed their displeasure on private grounds and in plain terms, arguing that to put the pupils on this short allowance of learning was nothing but an act of downright robbery and fraud: and one old lady, finding that The sobbing child came closer up, and took the little she could not inflame or irritate the peaceable schoolmas-languid hand in hers. Releasing his again after a time, ter by talking to him, bounced out of his house and talked at him for half an hour outside his own window, to another old lady, saying that of course he would deduct this half-holiday from his weekly charge, or of course he

"I hope I always was. I meant to be, God knows," said the poor schoolmaster.

"Who is that?" said the boy, seeing Nell. "I am afraid to kiss her, lest I should make her ill. Ask her to shake hands with me."

the sick boy laid him gently down.

"You remember the garden, Harry," whispered the schoolmaster, anxious to rouse him, for a dulness seemed gathering upon the child, “and how pleasant it used to

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