The next morning the ladies, particularly Fanny, who,
somehow or other, spent nearly her whole time there, importuned
Mr. Lennox to recall his sentence of banishment
against poor Seth; but that gentleman afforded no encouragement
to their petitions.

“He can never again come into my office. The young
scoundrel! I am indignant as well as amazed at the
change which has taken place in him, or, rather, at my
discovery of his real character. Who ever saw such a
modest, bashful, blushing little fellow three months ago?
He could not find courage to speak, and now, yesterday,
when he had a point to carry, I never saw more nerve, determination,
and strength of character: burning cheek,
flashing eye, and words flowing from his lips that sounded
more like Junius or Sheridan than a little, impertinent,
country ploughboy.”

“But these,” said Mrs. Lennox, “are indications of talent,
which, you know, you always predicted he would one
day reveal from under his unpromising exterior.”

“Talent? yes, but talent accompanied by a want of principle,
which promises no very brilliant close to his career.
I really hate the boy, not so much for what he has himself

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done, as for one or two doubts which he half caused in me
of the strict integrity of Emmerson's representations. But
I see Emmerson was, as he always is, perfectly, strictly
honest and right. He said the boy was bold, insolent, unprincipled,
and would make mischief in the family; and you
see he has done his best to verify the prediction.”

“But Mr. Emmerson never spoke to us in this way of
Seth,” said Mary.

“No, of course not! He did not wish to interfere with
the boy; but, as the superintendent of my business, it was
his duty to state to me exactly his opinion of all the subordinate
agents of the office.”

“Upon my word!” said Mary, “I don't believe Seth has
had the least intention to do wrong in this circumstance.”

“What! do you imagine Emmerson really countermanded
his order to copy the bill, that he might first correct it?”

“Why, Seth looked to me like a person who meant to
tell the truth at all hazards, simply because it was the
truth.”

“But Emmerson denies this. Besides, the bill is mine.
Mr. Emmerson never corrects my draughts.”

“He might have mistaken; he might have forgotten. It
is certainly very strange, but—”

“You pay Mr. Emmerson's memory a poor compliment.”

“And, my dear father, this poor little Seth! what could
possess him, but his unflinching honesty, to throw himself
into such a dilemma? He knows he is entirely dependant
on you; he knows the confidence you have in Emmerson.
If he had, from negligence, omitted to copy the bill, he
might have better acknowledged it at once, than told a lie
which must bring him thus openly in conflict with his superior
and master; or even had he been inclined to a falsehood,
why add the grave charge against Emmerson that he
knew the truth of his excuse?”

“Mary,” said Mr. Lennox, after a pause, “you seem to
take a great interest in this boy, but I beg you will conduct
his defence with a little more forbearance towards others.
You have almost inferred, not only that Seth is innocent, but
that Mr. Emmerson is guilty. Of course, you are not aware
of what your words might be made to infer, but hereafter I
beg you will be more careful. What Mr. Emmerson says
is not only honest, but true. He is not only the purest,
most frank, and disinterested of men, but he is the most

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acute judge of character, and the best informed upon every
subject on which he ventures to speak. I trust not only his
integrity, but his memory. He never forgets. The precision
and coolness of his mind are actually astonishing. It is
to him I look as the guardian of Harry and the inheritor of
half my business, whenever I may choose to retire myself
from the toils of the office. A breath against his character,
and I am sure he would withdraw himself from me forever.
You will oblige me by never mentioning Seth's name again,
either to him or to me. But here he comes.”

“Good-morning!” said Emmerson, with a smile and manner
of such quiet self-possession that, while he spoke, every
one present acknowledged the truth of Mr. Lennox's representation
of him, and gave up Seth as a good-for-nothing,
indomitable, quarrelsome little rascal. Even Mary, for the
moment, ceased to justify him in her thoughts. Fanny alone
began to see a little into the peculiar character of Emmerson.

“We are discussing the merits and demerits of that young
scamp Seth,” said Mr. Lennox, “and I am doing justice to
your superior discrimination of character.”

“Oh,” replied Emmerson, modestly, “my opportunities
were better. I was with him more, and he was less on his
guard with me. But I am sorry you were so severe with
him.”

“His conduct was certainly very extraordinary,” said
Mrs. Lennox, “and seems, indeed, inexplicable.”

“Why, the fact is, the poor little fellow has a morbid,
diseased imagination!” said Emmerson, as if speaking upon
a subject in no way interesting to him. “I have always
found him so suspicious and susceptible, that I was neither
surprised nor displeased at the explosion of yesterday. He
is always fancying people are trying to injure him—a most
unfortunate disposition. Do you know that this little gentleman
is ambitious, too?” he continued, as if relating an
excellent joke. (Emmerson rarely joked, unless the subject
had, as in the present case, some bearing upon himself.)
“Ha! ha! ha! he has ideas and plans of all sorts.
Do you know he expects to be a very great man one of
these days? Ha! ha! ha!”

“Well,” said Mary, quietly, “it depends only on himself.
Many a great man has risen from the plough.”

“He's much more likely to come to the gallows, I fear,”

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said Emmerson, in a whisper. “I dont speak all I could
of this wicked little fellow. He is a bad, worthless, dangerous
person.”

They were going to ask what he meant by this insinuation,
when a servant entered with a letter for Frank, and
Emmerson took his leave.

“At last!” said Frank. “By your leave, ladies and gentlemen!
So! I am to start for my post in three days.”

This news threw the family into a commotion, although
it was no more than they had long expected. Perhaps,
strange as it may appear, no one was pleased at it except
Fanny and Frank himself.

He had no sooner been convinced that her love was bestowed
on his brother, than he conscientiously resolved to
master his own passion without the least diminution of his
esteem for her qualities or interest in her happiness. While
daily exposed to her presence, he found this a difficult task,
and he prepared, therefore, to leave her with a tender satisfaction,
shared by her, because she knew that, when absent,
he would speedily succeed in diverting his thoughts by new
scenes and adventures. But the sweet, pretty girl unconsciously
added to his passion by her desire to show towards
him the utmost warmth of a friendship which only stopped
short at love.

The preparations for sending Frank off, however, did not
prevent Mrs. Lennox from following her wish and that of
the rest of the family, fully sanctioned by Mr. Lennox, in
seeking out Seth, with the purpose of offering him such aid
as he might require. With considerable difficulty, they succeeded
in tracing him to the office of a lawyer, where he
had procured some copying at a price sufficient to provide
him with a sustenance. Mrs. Lennox enclosed a note to
him for twenty dollars, begging to hear from him whenever
he might require similar assistance. Her husband would
allow her to say no more, either in the way of encouragement
or advice, as he said it would look like an intimation
against Emmerson.

The next day was the last of Frank's stay, and at dinner
the family sat longer than usual, and the young officer received
much excellent advice from everybody present.
Mrs. Lennox was going on to beg he wouldn't smoke so
much, would wear flannel next his skin, etc., etc., etc., when
two notes came in, one for Frank and one for Mrs. Lennox.

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The latter was from Seth. The twenty dollar bank-note
was enclosed, with the following words:

“To Mrs. Lennox.
“Madam,

“I haven't done anything wrong that I know of; but while
I labour under the imputation I will not accept assistance,
except it is offered because they think me incapable of a
dishonourable action. I seize this occasion to apologize for
my rudeness to Mr. Lennox, once my noble friend and benefactor;
you and all your family have my thanks and best
wishes. I respectfully thank you for your interest in me;
but don't fear, I shall get along somehow, and don't intend
to knock under yet.

“There's a young, haughty, ungrateful dog for you,” said
Lennox.

“Now, I like that!” said Mary; “that's noble—that's the
way a man ought to act. Seth is as innocent as Emmerson
himself.”

“Mary!” said Lennox, with a frown of displeasure.

“Where's Frank?” said Mrs. Lennox.

He was gone.

“He also had a letter,” remarked Mary.

“Did you see him read it?”

“No, I paid him no attention.”

“Did you observe Mr. Frank?” inquired Mr. Lennox of
the servant.

“Yes, sir. He opened the letter, read it, rose, and immediately
went down stairs.”

“Is he gone out?”

“He took his hat, sir, and went out.”

“Did he seem surprised or alarmed on reading this
letter?” inquired Mrs. Lennox, anxiously.

“He looked, ma'am,” answered the servant, “very much
as he usually does, and got right up and went out.”

“I hope,” exclaimed Mrs. Lennox, rising suddenly, “he
has received no bad news.”

“I hope,” cried Mr. Lennox, good-naturedly, imitating
her manner, “I hope he has not jumped out of the window!”

“But,” said Mrs. Lennox, half laughing and half alarmed,
“should anything have happened!”

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“Pooh, pooh, Katy! what a superfine Spartan mother
you would have made! I fancy your presenting Frank his
shield, and telling him `with it or upon it!' ”

“Mother would say,” interrupted Mary, laughing, “ `with
it or without it! but, at all events, do you mind and come
home!' ”