something of him, have you?" inquired Fabens.

"O, but little, sir, very little indeed," said Frisbie. "He came the
other day to trade out a due-bill, and--I believe Fairbanks is well
enough satisfied about him now. We were not certain that you knew him
very well."

"There was no difficulty with him, I presume?" said Fabens, not
indifferently.

"O, no, nothing of any consequence whatever; nothing that we would
breathe abroad, or wish to remember," said Frisbie, with a meekened
look.

"May I ask if anything dishonorable on his part?" inquired Fabens. "We
have supposed him one of our best young men--one of the _very_ best in
town; and we have known him from a child."

"I am sorry I mentioned his name: I see it disturbs you," said Frisbie.
"I would not weaken one's confidence in another for anything in the
world--unless I had the weightiest reason. And this was nothing of
importance, for one of his friends to know."

"But may _we_ not know it, and be relieved of our anxiety?" asked
Fabens, with rising emotion.

"Why,--yes, I would as lief _you_ would know it as not," said Frisbie.
"_You_ will say it was a trifling affair, and little worth minding
after all. Hundreds of young men do the same, and never repeat it, and
are just as well thought of, too, by a good many people. Temptations
lie in wait to ensnare us all; and the greatest wonder is, not that now
and then one becomes criminal, but that so many people, good as you and
I, Squire Fabens, do not oftener step aside from virtue's way."

"But we thought George Ludlow the last to be tempted. He is certainly
a most respectable young man. His very looks bespeak an innocent
heart. I seldom meet him without desiring to exclaim as Jesus did at
the approach of young Nathanael--'Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom
there is no guile!' And then he is so industrious and regular," said
Fabens warmly.

"I am very glad you think and feel as you do. It is truly refreshing
to witness such confidence in men. And I told Fairbanks that George
looked as though he worked hard, and wanted to be respected."

"But tell me, what of his error, Mr. Frisbie? I insist upon knowing."

"You shall know, Squire Fabens. I would as lief _you_ would know as
not; you will not breathe it where it can hurt Ludlow. You know we are
bound to lift up the fallen--not to crush them."

"But he has not fallen, I hope! What was his error?"

"Do not let it trouble you, Squire, do not let