compared to that of the peasant, who for the first timelistened to conversation on a subject which had lately been filling all his thoughts. He longed to speak, to ask questions of the clergyman, but a feeling of awe kept him back; he only hoped that the gentleman would continue to talk, and felt vexed when he was interrupted by three children who ran up to the stranger to ask for alms. Begging is a bad trade, my friends," said Mr. Ewart gravely, "I never like to encourage it in the young." "We're so hungry," said the youngest of the party. "Mother's dead, and father's broke his leg!" cried another.

"We want to get him a little food," whined the third. "Do you live near?" asked Mr. Ewart.

"I will go and see your father," said the clergyman.

The little rogues, who were accustomed to idle about the ruin to gain pence from visitors by a tale of pretended woe, looked at each other in some perplexity at the offer, for though they liked money well enough, they were by no means prepared for a visit. At last Jack, the eldest, said with impudent assurance, "Father's not there, he's taken to the hospital, there's only mother at home."

"Mother! you said just now that your mother was

dead."

"I meant" stammered the boy, quite taken by sur prise; but the clergyman would not suffer him to proceed.

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"Do not add another untruth, poor child, to those which you have just uttered. Do you not know that there is One above the heavens who hears the words of your lips, reads the thoughts of your hearts-One who will judge, and can punish?"

Ashamed and abashed, the three children made a hasty retreat. As soon as they were beyond sight and hearing of the strangers, Jack turned round and made a mocking face in their direction, and Madge exclaimed in an insolent tone, "We weren't going to stop for his ser

"There's Mark there that would take it in every word, and thank him for it at the end," said Jack.

"Oh, Mark's so odd!" cried Ben; "he's never like anybody else. No one would guess him for our

brother!"

These words were more true than Ben's usually were, for the bright-haired young noble himself scarcely offered a greater contrast to the ragged, dirty children, than they with their round rustic faces, marked by little expression but stupidity on that of Ben, sullen obstinacy on Madge's, and forward impudence on Jack's, did to the expansive brow and deep thoughtful eye of the boy whom they had spoken of as Mark.

"Yes," said Jack, "he could never even pluck a wildflower, but he must be pulling it to bits to look at all its parts. It was not enough to him that the stars shine to

give us light, he must prick out their places on an old bit of paper, as if it mattered to him which way they were stuck. But of all his fancies he's got the worst one now; I think he's going quite crazed."

"What's he taken into his head?" said Madge.

"You remember the bag which the lady dropped at the stile, when she was going to the church by the wood?"

Madge nodded assent, and her brother continued : "What fun we had in carrying off and opening that bag, and dividing the things that were in it! Father had the best of the fun of it though, for he took the purse with

the money.

"I know," cried Ben, "and mother had the handkerchief with lace round the edge, and E. S. marked in the corner. We-more's the shame!--had nothing but some pence, and the keys; and Mark, as the biggest, had the book."

"Ah! the book!" cried Jack; "that's what has put him out of his wits!"

"No one grudged it him, I'm sure," said Ben, “precious little any of us would have made out of it. But Mark takes so to reading, it's so odd; and it sets him a thinking, a thinking: well, I can't tell what folk like us have to do with reading and thinking!"

"Nor I!" cried both Madge and Jack.

'I shouldn't wonder," said the latter, as stretched on

the grass he amused himself with shying stones at the sparrows, "I shouldn't wonder if his odd ways had something to do with that red mark on his shoulder!”

"What, that strange mark, like a cross, which made us call him the Red-cross Knight, after the ballad which mother used to sing us?"

Yes; I never saw a mark like that afore, either from blow or burn."

Mother don't like to hear it talked of," said Madge. f “Well, whatever has put all this nonsense into his head, father will soon knock it out of him when he comes back!" cried Jack. "He's left off begging, he won't ask for a penny, and he used to get more than we three together, 'cause ladies said he looked so interesting; and he'll not so much as take an egg from a nest,—he's turned quite good for nothing!"

Leaving the three children to pursue their conversation, we will return to him who was the subject of it. That which had made them scoff had made him reflect,-he could not get rid of those solemn words, "There is One above the heavens who hears the words of your lips, reads the thoughts of your hearts-One who will judge, and can punish!" They reminded him of what he had read in his book, The soul that sinneth it shall die; he knew himself to be a sinner, and he trembled.

Little dreaming what was passing in the mind of the peasant, Mr. Ewart examined the ruin without noticing

him further, and Mark still leant on the gate, a silent, attentive listener.

"I think, Charles," said the tutor, "that I should like to make a sketch of this spot, I have brought my paintbox and drawing block with me, and if I could only procure a little water—”

“Please may I bring you some, sir?” said Mark.

The offer was accepted, and the boy went off at once, still turning in his mind the conversation that had passed.

'Pilgrims in the narrow path that leadeth to salvation,' I wish that I knew what he meant. Is that a path only for holy men like him, or can it be that it is open to me ? Salvation that is safety, safety from punishment, safety from the anger of the terrible God. Oh, what can I do to be saved!"

In a few minutes Mark returned with some fresh water which he brought in an old broken jar. He set it down by the spot where Mr. Ewart was seated.

"Thanks, my good lad," said the clergyman, placing a silver piece in his hand.

"Good," repeated Mark to himself; "he little knows to whom he is speaking."

"It would be tedious to you, Charles, to remain beside me while I am sketching," said Mr. Ewart; "you will enjoy a little rambling about; only return to me in an hour."

"I will explore!" replied the young lord gaily ;