n directly. I
will provide tools for the business."

Here their conference was broken off owing to William Hope, who came to
call his brother to dinner, and the wicked servant and his weak young
master parted.

It was not that Simpson was afraid of doing this cruel piece of
mischief by himself, that he insisted on George Hope's accompanying
him, but he knew it would place the unfortunate youth so completely
in his power, that he could from that moment fearlessly defraud him
of his pocket-money, by basely threatening to inform Mr. Hope of his
son's depravity; and he was too good a judge of human nature to fear
that such a boy as George would ever have resolution to own his
transgression.

How carefully ought young people to guard against the gratification of
evil passions; for, however artfully a plan may be conceived, however
secretly carried into execution, sooner or later, detection always
follows crime.

It is always dangerous to listen to the advice of those whose education
and pursuits are greatly beneath us; or to make confidants and
companions of servants. Their offers of service to a young man, against
the wishes of his parent, cannot be sincere; if they will deceive their
_master_, think not they will spare his _son_; but, taking advantage of
his weakness, they will not only render him a tool to their own vices,
but too often prove his final ruin.

By nature, George Hope possessed good abilities; and he had arrived at
that age when he could scarcely be called a child; and he was therefore
perfectly conscious of the sin he was going to commit. All his faults,
more or less, might be traced up to his constant association with this
artful Simpson, who, bad himself, took a pleasure in perverting the
minds of the young and inexperienced; falsely considering that their
profligacy would be an excuse for his own.

But Simpson had his own malicious disposition to gratify, in this plan
against the peace of young Shirley; and he had formed a scheme so artful
and atrocious, that he flattered himself it would be sure of success,
and turn all suspicion from the real authors of it.

Just across Mrs. Shirley's meadow stood a small cottage, which was
occupied by a poor Irishman, who gained an honest livelihood by working
as a jobbing gardener; and Patrick Lary was so well respected, that he
was employed by all the gentlemen in that neighbourhood, and by Mr.
Hope, among the rest.

Lary, though a good-natured, hard-work