to say I'm pardoned, as they call it, and I come away; but they
couldn't give me back the three months of my life."

"No," said Mr. Fairfax; "you have suffered indeed. But I trust that
even yet you may find good come out of evil, as it so often does. We
have come to know and respect Stephen, and as soon as he is well he
shall be moved into a comfortable house, which I have now to let, and
which is at your disposal, if you like to take it. Other help, too, I
hope to be able to render you."

Thus talking, they arrived at the hospital. Stephen had not made much
progress, and was still alarmingly weak. Scanty food and constant
anxiety had told terribly on his delicate constitution. But when he
saw his father, and heard that he had been set free, and declared
innocent, a new life seemed to come into him.

"I shall get well now, father," he said; "I feel I shall--only my
head's so bad where the blow came that I can't think much. But that
doesn't matter now; you'll look after the little 'uns. 'Twas the
having all them on me, and thinking about you, that seemed to crush me
down; though I knew you was innocent, father--I knew it all along.
Thank God for making it clear, though. I asked Him to do it, night and
day, and He's done it."

* * * * *

"Now, Archie, my boy," said Mr. Fairfax, as he and his son walked back
together, "you see how entirely wrong you were in your hasty
judgment."

"Yes, father, I do see;" and the lad's voice was full of feeling.
"Stephen may never lose the effects of this time of cruel hardship. I
might have been his friend, and I was his enemy instead."

"If I had listened, or allowed the foreman to listen, to your guesses,
he might have been turned off altogether. It should be a lesson to
you, Archie, never to injure another person's character again without
absolute certainty, and even then only if it is necessary for the
general good. Once gone, it is sometimes impossible to win back."

"I know--I know, father. I _will_ try to be careful, and not so
hasty."

"Don't judge merely by appearances, Archie. Above all, remember those
words of the Great Teacher, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.'"

"I KNOW BEST."

"So the choir treat is fixed for Thursday, and we're all going to the
Crystal Palace! What jolly fun we shall have!"

The speaker was Walter Franklin, a village lad of eighteen. But
Christopher Swallow, the friend to whom he addressed himself, a