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credit--that that fellow Staines was hanging about the park yesterday, and had a consultation with Mr. Ewart, who advised him to vote against me. Were you with your tutor at the time?"

"We were with Mr. Ewart all the afternoon," replied Ernest, his heart throbbing very fast.

"We never left him," added Charles, as his uncle glanced towards him.

"And do you know nothing of this pretended interview, which may have been-which probably is— nothing but a malicious calumny, a fable? Was there any such conversation held in your presence ?-a thing almost impossible to conceive."

and

"No, sir; there was none," replied Ernest, in a low tone. "None," repeated Charles, looking down down blushing.

Mr. Hope surveyed them both with a piercing eye. How uneasy they felt under his glance! He questioned them no more, however, but turned round again towards the fire, and was soon engaged once more in animated conversation with his wife.

"Have we done right?" whispered Charles to his brother.

"I don't exactly know. I hope so, for we acted from a good motive. We could not have spoken out, and ruined our friend. I am sure that God will not severely judge an act of kindness and gratitude.”

Ah! vain confidence, how many have you led astray! who judge of the Almighty by their own false ideas, instead of His pure unerring Word! Where do we find in the Bible that any sin, committed from any motive whatsoever, finds indulgence from the God of holiness and truth?

"I do not feel quite easy," murmured Charles.

'Nor I. Yet I hope that we have not really wandered from the way. I hardly see what else we could

have done."

The servants now brought in tea and coffee. Clementina, looking tired and out of spirits, came into the drawing-room, and was almost immediately followed by Mr. Ewart.

"Mr. Ewart," exclaimed Mr. Hope, stopping suddenly in what he was saying on perceiving the entrance of the clergyman, and addressing him in a sharp, stern, decided manner, "allow me to ask you one question."

The tutor silently bowed.

"Did you, or did you not, converse yesterday in the park with the butcher Staines?"

"I did do so," replied Mr. Ewart, without hesitation. Ernest bit his lip, till he almost brought blood.

"Did you, or did you not, advise him to vote against me?" continued Mr. Hope, in a tone of suppressed fury. "I advised him to vote according to his conscience." "And you advised these two boys to speak according

to their conscience!" exclaimed Mr. Hope, in a voice that made the room ring. "You, the instructor of youthyou, the pattern of strict morality-you have taught your pupils to be hypocrites and liars; you have corrupted their unsuspicious minds-"

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Sir," said Mr. Ewart, with dignity; but Mr. Hope was too furious to listen.

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"I say that you have corrupted them-ruined their principles. Your conduct to me I could pass over; but I cannot leave my nephews one day longer in the hands of one who would teach them to be hypocrites. You leave the castle to-morrow, sir,"

"Oh, uncle !-Mr. Hope!" cried Ernest and Charles, springing forward, "Mr. Ewart knew nothing of it; it was we- -it was I."

“There is no use speaking,” cried the indignant candidate. "From your conduct, I must judge of the instructions which you have received. Two of my

family to be guilty of deliberate falsehood!- Sir," he continued, turning towards Mr. Ewart, "you have heard my unalterable decision. You quit the castle to-morrow."

Mr. Ewart bowed gravely, and retired to his own apartment, followed by the almost heart-broken boys.

CHAPTER XXIII.

REGRETS, BUT NOT DESPAIR.

"I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded open any lock in Doubting Castle."-Pilgrim's Progress.

HAT has occurred? what could your uncle mean by speaking of deliberate falsehood?" said Mr. Ewart, as soon as the three were alone in his room, and the door closed behind them.

Ernest was too much agitated to speak. Charles told in a few words all that had happened, omitting nothing but his brother's greater share in the fault. Mr. Ewart listened with a look of distress on his countenance, which cut both the boys to the soul.

"We meant well," said Charles in conclusion, "but everything has turned out ill."

"You should rather say," observed the clergyman, in a mild but sad tone, "that you meant well, but that you acted ill,"

"And you must suffer for our fault," exclaimed Ernest, in bitter grief.

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