ave given their verdict; but still they have no
positive proof."

"But they have hanged people upon less proof before now, Rushbrook."

"Jane," replied Rushbrook, "our boy shall never be hanged--I promise you
that; so make your mind easy."

"Then you must confess, to save him; and I shall lose you."

A step at the door interrupted their colloquy. Rushbrook opened it, and
Mr Furness, the schoolmaster, made his appearance.

"Well, my good friends, I am very sorry the verdict has been such as it
is, but it cannot be helped; the evidence was too strong, and it was a
sad thing for me to be obliged to give mine."

"You!" exclaimed Rushbrook; "why, did they call you up?"

"Yes, and put me on my oath. An oath, to a moral man, is a very serious
responsibility; the nature of an oath is awful; and when you consider my
position in this place, as the inculcator of morals and piety to the
younger branches of the community, you must not be surprised at my
telling the truth."

"And what had you to tell?" inquired Rushbrook, with surprise.

"Had to tell--why, I had to tell what you told me this morning; and I
had to prove the bag as belonging to you; for you know you sent me some
potatoes in it by little Joey, poor fellow. Wilful Murder, and two
hundred pounds upon apprehension and conviction!"

Rushbrook looked at the pedagogue with surprise and contempt.

"Pray, may I ask how they came to know that anything had passed between
us yesterday morning, for if I recollect right, you desired me to be
secret."

"Very true, and so I did; but then they knew what good friends we always
were, I suppose, and so they sent for me, and obliged me to speak upon
my oath."

"I don't understand it," replied Rushbrook; "they might have asked you
questions, but how could they have guessed that I had told you
anything?"

"My dear friend, you don't understand it; but in my situation, looking
up to me, as every one does, as an example of moral rectitude and
correctness of conduct--as a pattern to the juvenile branches of the
community,--you see--"

"Yes, I do see that, under such circumstances, you should not go to the
ale-house and get tipsy two days, at least, out of the week," replied
Rushbrook, turning away.

"And why do I go to the ale-house, my dear friend, but to look after
those who indulge too freely--yourself, for instance? How often have I
seen you home?"

"Yes, when you were drunk and I was--" Jane put her hand upon her