54 A NOBLE CONFESSION.

advice, and conceal what I have done from our teacher,
_ I shall cause you all to practice deceit, the blame of the
accident will rest on the wrong person, and feeling that
he has been injured and deceived, it will be a long time
before Mr. Harding forgets the affair. ButifI do right
and confess my fault, and submit myself to my just
punishment, no one will be involved but myself, and
no one but the real offender will be suspected.”

“ And Frank—what will he do in that case?” asked
little Joe Green, who stood intently gazing at Maurice,
and apparently quite confounded at the new doctrines
he was uttering. | |

“Oh!” said Frank, “I can manage it easy enough
for myself. If Maurice does not choose to accept my
assistance, I can easily replace his ball where I found
it; that is clear enough. I have not the fancy for
being punished that he has—and am willing to be
obliged to a friend once in a while.”

“And so am I, Frank,” said Maurice, “and to no
one sooner than yourself ; but suppose I deceived my
teacher, [ cannot deceive God, who knoweth all things.
I feel that his all-seeing eye is upon me, and I must
act as in his sight.”

“You area proud fellow, Maurice,” said Frank,-in
an angry tone, and seizing the ball roughly from his
hand, he walked towards the conservatory.

The bell rang for evening prayers.
“I guess Maurice will change his mind to-night