d flogged me this day, or even a fortnight
previously. The marks that he left were not very ephemeral. I don't
know whether a flogging a month old would not equally well have served
my purpose. He certainly wrote a strong bold hand, in red ink, not
easily obliterated. However, as he had not noticed me since my illness,
I had no marks to show.

When she had readjusted my dress, she lugged me to her side, and we
looked, for a long while, in each other's eyes in silence.

"Ralph," said she, at length, forgetting that the fault was mutual, "do
you know that it is very rude to look so hard into people's faces; why
do you do it, my boy?"

"Because you are so very, very, very pretty, and your voice is so soft:
and because I do love you so."

"But you must not love me too much, my sweet child: because I can't be
with you to return your love."

"O dear, I'm so sorry; because--because--if you don't love me, nobody
will. Master don't love me, nor the ushers, nor the boys; and they keep
calling me the--"

"Hush, Ralph! hush, my poor boy," said she, colouring to her very
forehead. "Never tell me what they call you. Little boys who call
names are wicked boys, and are very false boys too. Hear me, Ralph!
You are nearly ten years old. You must be a man, and not love anyone
too much--not even me--for it makes people very unhappy to love too
much. Do you understand me, Ralph? You must be kind to all, and all
will be kind to you: but it is best not to love anything violently--
excepting, Ralph, Him who will love you when all hate you--who will care
for you, when all desert you--your God!"

"I don't know too much about that," was my answer. "Mr Root tells us
once every week to trust in God, and that God will protect the innocent,
and all that: and then flogs me for nothing at all, though I trust all I
can; and I'm sure that I'm innocent."

My good godmother was a little shocked at this, and endeavoured to
convince me that such expressions were impious, by assuring me that
everything was suffered for the best; and that, if Mr Foot flogged me
unjustly and wickedly, I should be rewarded, and my master punished for
it hereafter; which assurance did not much mend my moral feelings, as I
silently resolved to put myself in the way of a few extra unjust
chastisements, in order that my master might receive the full benefit of
them in a future state.

Moral duties should be inculcated in the earliest youth; but the
mysteries