A NOBLE CONFESSION, 53

“OQ Frank,” said Maurice, “you intended to do me
a service, and have acted from feelings of friendship
and kindness to me. I do feel truly grateful for your
intentions, but you have injured yourself, without at
all assisting me.”

“ How do you mean, Maurice, that I have not assisted
you ?” said Frank. “The ball cannot now testify against
you. It is easy enough for all of us to keep quiet, and
you will never be discovered.” |

“Oh, but I have done wrong,” said Maurice, “and I
cannot conceal it from my teacher. I shall go to him
directly when we assemble in the hall for prayers to-
night, if I cannot see him before. I could not rest to-
night without confessing all, and receiving his forgive-
ness for my disobedience and carelessness. I am sure
he will not be unreasonable or unkind, and I prefer re-
celving the punishment I deserve to deceiving him.”

“You will not be such a simpleton as that, surely,”
said Bob Newton, “when Frank has done so much to
get you out of the difficulty. It would be treating him
very unhandsomely, and exposing yourself unnecessarily
to Mr. Harding’ S censure.”

“T am not ungrateful to you, Frank, for the kindness
you intended me,” said Maurice, “but there is only one
path for me, and that is the right one. It is ever plain
and open to us all, if we will but see it. There are
many winding and crooked ways, but they are always
full of perplexity and trouble. Suppose I follow your