Good-bye, dear Eustace; write to me, if I can be of any further use to you, and always think of me as "Your most affectionate friend, "EVELYN." CHAPTER V. THE CONFESSION. EUSTACE read the letter. His mind was soon made up, and he determined on his course; what Evelyn had recommended was plainly the line of duty. He determined to go to Evans. He would go then. He must pass through pupil room to reach Evans' study. When he entered, several boys were standing up at one end, talking to Saunders, their backs turned to Eustace. Saunders sat leaning back on a form, with his head against a desk, his hands joined round his knees, working up and down like an engine. “I tell you, you're wrong, I'm sure of it,-bet ten to one on it, he's a sneak, a born sneak, which all these religious fellows are; and he's dead sure to tell all, and find out religion for a reason." "Then I'll take any bet against you, I'll stake anything that Sherwood is staunch, so here goes," said Poynder, putting out his hands, "shake hands on it, old fellow, and it's done; done, my man." 'Well, ten to one," cried Saunders, "that he'll tell all in the end." "I think it's a shame that Eustace hasn't got a better name among us all, a more highminded fellow I never met, and I'm sure he would as soon die as tell Evans anything. Why, he has borne all the blame and the be just time. He went to his desk, and prepared his letter. We will see how his case appears on paper, told by himself, and that may enable us to judge better of it. "Dear Evelyn,-I want you very much to advise me. How often I think of our happy walks together up S. Mary's Hill Lane, and in Oxhey Wood. Dear old Oxhey ; and the violet dell. Eh! Well, I want advice, and I know you will give it me, and will enter into the difficulty. You know me of old. I never quite know or understand myself; I can't make myself out; I seem like two people. Evelyn, I long to serve our LORD, you know that; but I am just now in doubt. Now here is the point; I have been made prefect of bed-room; there's a great bully in it-Saunders. Well, a new boy comes -a youngster, a good little fellow, and I longed to feel that I was doing a work for an unprotected child, and so determined to fight his battles, and take care that he said his prayers without being interrupted. Well, Saunders cut his head open with a brush, the child cried, and Mrs. Wallace came in. She asked who had done it, turning to me as prefect. I wouldn't answer, that I might screen Saunders; and, Evelyn, here's the difficulty. I feel that I wanted to be blamed unfairly. Yet I have so often longed to be like one who endured for JESUS' sake. So I can't help thinking that I've acted a part, as it were, because I wanted to realise this one idea. Well, Mrs. Wallace, you know, doesn't like me, so she informed against me to Evans. He came in and asked about it, and gave me an imposition, and there it ended. Some of the fellows say I ought to give Saunders up; some say I have acted rightly; and yet, though I wish to do right in the matter, I feel doubtful about my motives, and especially now that some of the boys are praising me; I feel as if I were working for self, not for Him, Whom, as you know, dear Evelyn, I long to serve with my whole powers. "Write and tell me what to do; write, and advise me. I shall long for your letter; so write soon. I don't see much of Raymond: he's done with me now. But never mind, I didn't expect anything else. It is His will, and may I love it. Ever, dear Evelyn, "Your truly affectionate friend, " EUSTACE." Having written the letter, he went on more freely with his work; his heart was relieved; he quite trusted Evelyn's judgment. He felt sure of him, and so he determined not to keep the matter in his own hands any longer. He did the imposition, and gave it in. Many of the boys were with him. They said he had done his duty he was a "brick." Some said that he did all for show, and with them instead of being a brick, he was a "muff." Such were the two schools of opinions. Eustace himself was not quite sure to which class he belonged; he waited for Evelyn to tell him. At last the letter came. "Dearest Eustace,-You ask me for advice, and I will candidly give it. You know me, and my way of viewing things. May I have but one aim in all such matters, and that is, what will please Him, whom I believe we both long to serve. Now for this end self must be suppressed, and He must be exalted. You are too conscious, and this is thinking too much of self, in fact, glorifying yourself. Forgive me speaking so plainly, dear Eustace; you are feeding on the thought that you are a martyr, and suf fering unjustly. You delight in finding that others pity, or admire, or hate you, and that Saunders is looked upon as a great brute, while you are extolled to the skies as a hero. Now this is all very well in worldly eyes, but it does not do for the servant of CHRIST. He has another aim; you have not done all your duty. You were placed in a position of trust and responsibility; you undertook to fulfil it. The disorder you could not help : true, but part of your duty was to hinder a repetition of it, and as you were distinctly asked, to lay honestly before Evans the truth of the case. This you have not done; and to win the plaudits of the bed-room, and the secret feeling of being an innocent sufferer, you have shrunk from this clear duty. Evans placed you in authority, and you accepted the office. The fact of innocent suffering looks well; but the moment it becomes a conscious principle pursued for its own sake, it is wrong. You may say, what shall I do now? I will advise you as you wish it. "Go and tell Evans the plain truth, beg him to punish no one under the circumstances. Be indifferent whether the boys know it or not, and be careless of what they think of it, because it is right, and because you feel that you have left your true position by what you have done: your act of restitution is the return to that position. The pain or annoyance you may suffer in doing this, is just what all repentant acts are-painful. "This is what I should do; but keep two views clearly before you. Feel that you are doing right, to please your LORD; and if you are laughed at or abused, let this be your comfort, that this act is for His sake. "Now, I will say no more. Keep clearly before you the principle I have just laid down. He ever liveth to give you the needful aid. Good-bye, dear Eustace; write to me, if I can be of any further use to you, and always think of me as "Your most affectionate friend, 66 EVELYN." CHAPTER V. THE CONFESSION. EUSTACE read the letter. His mind was soon made up, and he determined on his course; what Evelyn had recommended was plainly the line of duty. He determined to go to Evans. He would go then. He must pass through pupil room to reach Evans' study. When he entered, several boys were standing up at one end, talking to Saunders, their backs turned to Eustace. Saunders sat leaning back on a form, with his head against a desk, his hands joined round his knees, working up and down like an engine. "I tell you, you're wrong, I'm sure of it,-bet ten to one on it,—he's a sneak, a born sneak, which all these religious fellows are; and he's dead sure to tell all, and find out religion for a reason." "Then I'll take any bet against you, I'll stake anything that Sherwood is staunch, so here goes," said Poynder, putting out his hands, "shake hands on it, old fellow, and it's done; done, my man." “Well, ten to one," cried Saunders, "that he'll tell all in the end." "I think it's a shame that Eustace hasn't got a better name among us all, a more highminded fellow I never met, and I'm sure he would as soon die as tell Evans anything. Why, he has borne all the blame and the |