able, and went away. Tell me, should I
say anything to Mr. Darrell about this or not?"

"Certainly not, till I have seen Mr. Poole myself. You have the money to
pay him about you? Give it to me, with Mr. Poole's address; I will call,
and settle the matter. Just ring the bell." (To the servant entering)
"Order my horse round." Then, when they were again alone, turning
to Lionel, abruptly laying one hand on leis shoulder, with the other
grasping his hand warmly, cordially: "Young man," said Alban Morley, "I
love you--I am interested in you-who would not be? I have gone through
this story; put myself positively to pain--which I hate--solely for your
good. You see what usury and money-lenders bring men to. Look me in the
face! Do you feel now that you would have the 'moral courage' you before
doubted of? Have you done with such things for ever?"

"For ever, so help me Heaven! The lesson has been cruel, but I do thank
and bless you for it."

"I knew you would. Mark this! never treat money affairs with
levity--MONEY is CHARACTER! Stop. I have bared a father's fault to a
son. It was necessary--or even in his grave those faults might have
revived in you. Now, I add this, if Charles Haughton--like you,
handsome, high-spirited, favoured by men, spoiled by women--if Charles
Haughton, on entering life, could have seen, in the mirror I have held
up to you, the consequences of pledging the morrow to pay for to-day,
Charles Haughton would have been shocked as you are, cured as you will
be. Humbled by your own first error, be lenient to all his. Take up his
life where I first knew it: when his heart was loyal, his lips truthful.
Raze out the interval; imagine that he gave birth to you in order to
replace the leaves of existence we thus blot out and tear away. In every
error avoided say, 'Thus the father warns the son;' in every honourable
action, or hard self-sacrifice, say, 'Thus the son pays a father's
debt.'"

Lionel, clasping his hands together, raised his eyes streaming with
tears, as if uttering inly a vow to Heaven. The Colonel bowed his
soldier-crest with religious reverence, and glided from the room
noiselessly.

CHAPTER VIII.

BEING BUT ONE OF THE CONSIDERATE PAUSES IN A LONG JOURNEY,
CHARITABLY AFFORDED TO THE READER.

Colonel Morley found Mr. Poole at home, just returned from his office;
he stayed with that gentleman nearly an hour, and then went straight
to Darrell. As the time appointed to meet the Fr