- OR, CLARENCE MORTIMER. 93

 

that he could not in the least guess what
form it would take.’ And so much were his
thoughts exercised upon this subject, that he
made several sad blunders in his lessons,
and was detained after school to study them
over again. ‘This was unfortunate, for he
thus lost an opportunity of talking the |
“matter over ith his cousin, and putting him
on his guard. e

Hal was a boy of more firmness and
strength of character than Clare, but his
deep affection for his cousin, caused him to
be too much influenced by him. If he had
not been kept at home by illness, it is more
than probable that he, too, would have fol-—
fowed Clare’s example, and renewed his ©
intimacy with Dick and Ben. As it was,
coming suddenly to a knowledge of the |

plan, he felt annoyed and anxious about it.