a child to me
till yesterday. Why did you step in, and made her to mock my deformity
and old age?"

"I am guiltless of that, at least," Arthur said, with something of a
sigh. "Upon my word of honour, I wish I had never seen the girl. My
calling is not seduction, Mr. Bows. I did not imagine that I had made
an impression on poor Fanny, until--until to-night. And then, sir, I was
sorry, and was flying from my temptation, as you came upon me. And," he
added, with a glow upon his cheek, which, in the gathering darkness, his
companion could not see, and with an audible tremor in his voice, "I do
not mind telling you, sir, that on this Sabbath evening, as the church
bells were ringing, I thought of my own home, and of women angelically
pure and good, who dwell there; and I was running hither as I met you,
that I might avoid the danger which beset me, and ask strength of God
Almighty to do my duty."

After these words from Arthur a silence ensued, and when the
conversation was resumed by his guest, the latter spoke in a tone which
was much more gentle and friendly. And on taking farewell of Pen,
Bows asked leave to shake hands with him, and with a very warm and
affectionate greeting on both sides, apologised to Arthur for having
mistaken him, and paid him some compliments which caused the young man
to squeeze his old friend's hand heartily again. And as they parted at
Pen's door, Arthur said he had given a promise, and he hoped and trusted
that Mr. Bows might rely on it?

"Amen to that prayer," said Mr. Bows, and went slowly down the stair.

CHAPTER LI. The happy Village again

Early in this history, we have had occasion to speak of the little town
of Clavering, near which Pen's paternal home of Fairoaks stood, and of
some of the people who inhabite the place; and as the society there
was by no means amusing or pleasant, our reports concerning it were not
carried to any very great length. Mr. Samuel Huxter, the gentleman whose
acquaintance we lately made at Vauxhall, was one of the choice spirits
of the little town, when he visited it during his vacation, and
enlivened the tables of his friends there, by the wit of Bartholomew's
and the gossip of the fashionable London circles which he frequented.

Mr. Hobnell, the young gentleman whom Pen had thrashed in consequence
of the quarrel in the Fotheringay affair, was, whilst a pupil at the
Grammar School at Clavering, made very welcome at the tea-table of Mrs.
Huxter