and by a sudden start threw his
rider; he was not much hurt by the fall, but the horse galloped away,
and they soon lost all trace of the way he took: after wasting some
time in fruitless endeavours to follow him, they were obliged to return
home.

George was very uneasy, and bitterly repented the fault he had
committed. "O Charles," cried he, "why did you ask me to disobey my
father! Alas! I fear he will never forgive me."

"Don't cry so, pray," answered his cousin, "come, follow my advice, and
this affair will never be discovered."--"How can that be? you surely
forget the horse is lost, and besides, I would not upon any account tell
an untruth." "You are very foolish then, let me tell you; for as nobody
saw us go out, if we deny knowing any thing about the horse, we shall
never be suspected."

"No, Charles, that I will never do; I had rather suffer the severest
punishment that could be inflicted upon me, than tell a _lie_. Nothing
shall induce me to add to the fault I have already committed. When my
father comes home, I will confess what I have done, and rely upon his
indulgence for pardoning a disobedience I so sincerely repent."

"Well then," said Charles, "if you will not follow my advice, at least
you have no occasion to say it was I who persuaded you to take out the
horses."--"I shall not even mention your name: but come, let us waste no
more time, in regretting an action that cannot be recalled, we had
better try by our future conduct, to make some reparation for the
past."--So saying, he took his cousin by the arm, and they were together
leaving the room, when Mr. Elliot entered. The young lads drew back in
dismay; Mr. Elliot ran to embrace his son. "You see me here, my dear
boy, sooner than you expected; but fortunately the business that called
me hence, was concluded much earlier than I could have imagined." Some
few minutes had elapsed, before George could gain courage to answer his
father, at length he said, "you are convinced, my dear sir, that your
company has always given me pleasure, but to day it causes me pain, for
I have just been guilty of a fault that will I fear deprive me of your
confidence." George here related to his father, all that had passed,
except carefully concealing the part his cousin had acted; when he had
finished, Mr. Elliot thus addressed him, "I am charmed with your noble
conduct, my dear boy, and most willingly forgive the error you have
committed, because I believe your repen