ccupation
that he did not perceive at first the entrance of his schoolfellows.
They stopped at the threshold, unwilling to interrupt him. He was
reading the Bible, and having read some verses he began to explain their
meaning. At last he finished.

"Sit down, young gentlemen, sit down, pray," said Mrs Hodge, offering
them some three-legged stools, which she wiped mechanically with her
apron.

Her words made Ellis look up. The colour came into his cheeks when he
saw the new-comers. They nodded kindly to him, and then explained that
they had come in consequence of an invitation they had received long
ago, and that they were sorry to find their host in so bad a state.
John Hodge said that he recollected them, that he was glad to see them,
but he made no complaint, or spoke even of the cause of his illness.
After they had sat and talked a short time, Ellis got up to go away;
Buttar and Gregson accompanied him, but Ernest lingered behind, and
taking out the contents of his purse, offered it to the dame.

"Thank ye kindly, sir," she replied, motioning him to keep it; "but that
young gentleman has given us all we want for some time. He says he gets
it from his friends; that we are not robbing him; and we couldn't be
taking it from you or from any one, unless we wanted it very badly. Ah,
sir, if ever there was an angel on earth he is one; of that I'm
certain."

"Well, well, when you do want you mustn't mind taking it from me. I owe
your husband some money as it is," answered Ernest, putting out his hand
to the poor woman, and then to Hodge. He took up the children, and gave
a kiss to a little rosy boy, who smiled in his face, and then saying he
would come back soon, turned after his companions. He felt much
gratified at hearing such an account of Ellis. At once an idea struck
him. In the story Selby had told him about Ellis, it appeared that one
of the causes of suspicion against him was his being possessed of a
considerable sum of money. Might not that have been given to him for
the purpose of being bestowed in charity, as he undoubtedly had lately
been furnished with funds for the same object? Ernest, though not over
precipitate usually, at once jumped at this conclusion. It was very
delightful to be able to think so, and the conviction that he had
wronged Ellis in his thoughts caused him to be doubly anxious to make
ample amends without delay, and this added considerably to the warmth of
his manner when he