ommitted,
and of his sorrow; and, Louis, he spoke as if he were sorry," said
Hamilton, looking down, and speaking gravely. "I felt as if I were
wrong in being so rejoiced at their detection. He spoke of the
necessity he was under, not simply of making an example of such
offenders, which was a duty he owed to the others under his charge,
but of that of marking also to themselves the great abhorrence he
entertained of their conduct. He then spoke of the consequences of
unchecked sin, and, in a few words, mentioned a very sad history
of a former pupil of his who turned out very ill--he is dead, Louis;
the manner in which he spoke of that prayer of the Psalmist's, 'Make
me not a rebuke unto the foolish,' was very solemn; I assure you there
were very few dry eyes."

Louis' were filled with tears.

"Well, Hamilton," he said, slowly.

"He then desired Casson to go directly and make preparations for leaving
his house in less than an hour, and told Harris that he should not allow
him to return after the holidays. There was not a sound when Casson left
the room, Louis, except the sobbing of one or two of the little boys. I
think I never felt any thing so solemn. It is a serious, a very serious
thing."

"Very, very," said Louis. "Did Casson seem sorry, Hamilton?"

"He was very pale and silent--I think frightened, not sorry. Harris
stood like a statue while the doctor was speaking; but, when he told
him he was not to return, I heard him sigh so deeply, it was quite
painful."

"And Churchill?" said Louis, with difficulty.

"Churchill is to stay a week behind the others, and to write exercises
every day till he goes home."

"Oh, Hamilton, Hamilton!" cried Louis, bursting fairly into tears,
"I am not crying wholly for sorrow; for I am, and ought to be, thankful
that I have not been made a 'rebuke unto the foolish.'"

Hamilton pressed his hand.

"I hope," he continued, "that this may be a blessing to me; but I am
very much afraid of myself, Hamilton, for I am constantly making good
resolutions and breaking them--but, Hamilton, do you think they would
suppose I had told of them?"

"Dr. Wilkinson told them you would not break your promise and clear
yourself by betraying them," replied Hamilton; "and he also said a
great deal on the folly of rash promises, and the evil of covering
sin. I wish you had heard it; but we must not talk any more, for here
is Alfred, and we shall have the prayer-bell presently; so, if you
have an