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"Oh! I wish I was a little child again!" he exclaimed ; or an old man-one who had nothing more to dread from the trials of youth. I am very much afraid-I fear that Oxford will make me wicked-I am afraid that I shall be tempted to do wrong. But why should I be afraid? will not that God who loved me before I knew his name, will he not keep me from evil? I know that he will hold me up when I am falling, for he has made me his own, he has bought me with a price, and I shall be blessed." He then looked up, and saw the beautiful Malvern hills rising above the trees, their summits being strongly illuminated by the rays of the

sun.

"The morning is spread on those hills," said Henry," and yet, last night, many things I fear were done in the village at their feet, which have not been pleasing to God. Oh! poor Edgar Bonville, I wish the wicked world would let you alone!" Henry then tried to rouse himself from his painful feelings, and began to move quickly along the lane; but his movements became slower and slower, and after a while, he was leaning against a gate which opened out of the lane. At length, when it was near six o'clock, he heard the trampling of horses, and a moment afterwards he saw Mr. Bonville,

Mr. Wellings, and the two younger Hargraves riding towards him, though it seems, that at first they did not perceive him, for he heard Wellings say, "Are we near the house? if so, you must dismount, my hero, and walk quietly forwards. How do you get in ?”

Before Edgar could reply, Henry stepped forward, saying, "Good morning, gentlemen; I trust you have had a pleasant night, and that the ball has been agreeable—and the ladies civil -and the supper good."

"Henry Milner!" exclaimed Edgar, changing colour. At the same moment the young man sprang from his horse, and delivering the bridle to the footman, instantly joined him, inquiring, with a forced laugh, how he had happened to discover his absence.

"Aye! say how was it," said Wellings. "How was it," replied Henry; "ah! Wellings, have you ever found yourself deep enough for me yet? But come, Edgar," he added, in a lower tone, "come home, and be quite sure of a kind reception. Send them away-do, dear Bonville—and do not fear a long lecture." "Well, good bye, Wellings-good bye," said Edgar.

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But we shall see you to-morrow, at the cricket-ground?" added Samuel Hargrave.

"If I say yes," replied Edgar, "you will understand that it means no; for I have proved that it is so;-I had resolved not to go to the ba 1. And yet

Mr. Wellings and the two Hargraves looked at each other, exchanged a whisper, and then saying good bye, abruptly turned the heads of their horses, and galloped away.

"The best sight I have seen this morning," remarked Henry, "is the tail of Wellings' horse. But, Bonville, how can you be so soft as to be led by such?" and here Henry hesitated. "Do, my dear Edgar, cut the connexion; Wellings is going to Oxford; and think what discredit such an acquaintance will do you."

'But, Henry," said Edgar," is Mr. Dalben very angry with me? When did he discover my absence?"

Henry smiled-he could not help it, when he recollected how this discovery had been brought about; but he replied, "Edgar, you should not have done this slily; and you should not have engaged Maurice in the business. Why did you not speak out like a man, and say at once you wished to go to this same ball? My uncle would not have been angry; he might have thought you foolish, but he would not have been really displeased."

<< Then I suppose that he is really displeased now," returned Edgar.

"He is not pleased," replied Henry; "he does not love under-hand doings; for as you know, Edgar, when a person does any thing in that sort of way, it makes him such a slave to the people who are in his secret. You never would have shaken off the tyranny of Wellings, had he supposed that he had you in his power; and therefore I am very glad that I came to meet you, though I did not expect to find him with you. But come, dear Edgar, come to your real home, and to friends, who, if they presume to find fault, yet desire nothing more earnestly than your honour and your happiness."

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Oh, Henry!" replied Edgar," my true and real friend, how kind are you to come and encourage me, and lead me thus back again into a place of safety. I am a fool-a weak fool; and had you not met me, I should have been led to another engagement with these young men, who, bad as they appear to be to you, have shown themselves in far worse colours to me. But I will not," he added, "I will not cloud your mind by entering into what I know of them, and by telling you what I have seen of them this night. But is Mr. Dalben very angry ?"

Let us hasten home," said Henry, "and

perhaps you may get an hour of rest before breakfast; and be assured, you will not find my uncle a severe censor."

Thus Henry brought back his friend. And the contrite and subdued manner of Edgar, when he appeared at breakfast, and asked Mr. Dalben's pardon for the confusion he had made in the family, so affected the old gentleman, that he extended his hand to him, and said, "Let this only be remembered, Edgar, as a warning to you not to consent when sinners entice. Remember, that every stolen pleasure, however innocent in its nature in other respects, brings with it a secret sting, which will be felt one time or another. Therefore, my son, let all things be done with the knowledge of friends, it being always admitted as an axiom, that that which may not be told to parents and guardians, ought never to be done at all; that is, supposing such parents to have only an ordinary sense of morality."

During the hour after breakfast, which Mr. Dalben always exacted from Edgar, he took occasion to point out to him that dangerous liability which he had perceived in his character to be persuaded to any line of conduct by any person in whose society he happened to fall. Concluding, by pointing out to him where a