z-Owen, who now enjoys it, and left this country."

"All this is news to me," said Edmund; "but, father, tell me what
grounds there were for the lady's suspicion that her lord died
unfairly?"

"Alas!" said Oswald, "that is only known to God. There were strange
thoughts in the minds of many at that time; I had mine; but I will
not disclose them, not even to you. I will not injure those who may be
innocent; and I leave it to Providence, who will doubtless, in its own
best time and manner, punish the guilty. But let what I have told you be
as if you had never heard it."

"I thank you for these marks of your esteem and confidence," said
Edmund; "be assured that I will not abuse them; nor do I desire to
pry into secrets not proper to be revealed. I entirely approve your
discretion, and acquiesce in your conclusion, that Providence will in
its own time vindicate its ways to man; if it were not for that trust,
my situation would be insupportable. I strive earnestly to deserve the
esteem and favour of good men; I endeavour to regulate my conduct so as
to avoid giving offence to any man; but I see, with infinite pain, that
it is impossible for me to gain these points."

"I see it too, with great concern," said Oswald; "and every thing that I
can say and do in your favour is misconstrued; and, by seeking to do you
service, I lose my own influence. But I will never give my sanction to
acts of injustice, nor join to oppress innocence. My dear child, put
your trust in God: He who brought light out of darkness, can bring good
out of evil."

"I hope and trust so," said Edmund; "but, father, if my enemies should
prevail--if my lord should believe their stories against me, and I
should be put out of the house with disgrace, what will become of me?
I have nothing but my character to depend upon; if I lose that, I lose
every thing; and I see they seek no less than my ruin."

"Trust in my lord's honour and justice," replied Oswald; "he knows your
virtue, and he is not ignorant of their ill-will towards you."

"I know my lord's justice too well to doubt it," said Edmund; "but
would it not be better to rid him of this trouble, and his family of an
incumbrance? I would gladly do something for myself, but cannot without
my lord's recommendation; and, such is my situation, that I fear the
asking for a dismission would be accounted base ingratitude; beside,
when I think of leaving this house, my heart saddens at the thought, and
tells me