be so constantly reviving the remembrance of his recent loss, he may grow melancholy and stupid.  I have several times noticed his reserve, so unusual in a child.  His dreadful loss and the horrors that attended it have made, a deep impression—­stupified him, to a certain extent, I think.  Well, well! we will get him off, and once away at school, and surrounded by lively boys, this dulness will soon wear off.”

The gentlemen having fully determined upon his being sent, it was proposed to bring him in immediately and talk to him relative to it.  He was accordingly sent for, and came into the room, placing himself beside the chair of Mr. Walters.

Clarence had altered very much since the death of his parents.  His face had grown thin and pale, and he was much taller than when he came to Philadelphia:  a shade of melancholy had overspread his face; there was now in his eyes that expression of intense sadness that characterized his mother’s.  “You sent for me?” he remarked, inquiringly, to Mr. Walters.

“Yes, my boy,” he rejoined, “we sent for you to have a little talk about school.  Would you like to go to school again?”

“Oh, yes!” answered Clarence, his face lighting up with pleasure; “I should like it of all things; it would be much better than staying at home all day, doing nothing; the days are so long,” concluded he, with a sigh.

“Ah! we will soon remedy that,” rejoined Mr. Balch, “when you go to Sudbury.”

“Sudbury!” repeated Clarence, with surprise; “where is that?  I thought you meant, to go to school here.”

“Oh, no, my dear,” said Mr. Balch, “I don’t know of any good school here, such as you would like; we wish to send you to a place where you will enjoy yourself finely,—­where you will have a number of boys for companions in your studies and pleasures.”

“And is Em going with me?” he asked.

“Oh, no, that is not possible; it is a school for boys exclusively; you can’t take your sister there,” rejoined Mr. Walters.

“Then I don’t want to go,” said Clarence, decidedly; “I don’t want to go where I can’t take Em with me.”

Mr. Balch exchanged glances with Mr. Walters, and looked quite perplexed at this new opposition to his scheme.  Nothing daunted, however, by this difficulty, he, by dint of much talking and persuasion, brought Clarence to look upon the plan with favour, and to consent reluctantly to go without his sister.

But the most delicate part of the whole business was yet to come—­they must impress upon the child the necessity of concealing the fact that he was of African origin.  Neither seemed to know how to approach the subject.  Clarence, however, involuntarily made an opening for them by inquiring if Emily was to go to Miss Jordan’s school again.

“No, my dear,” answered Mr. Balch, “Miss Jordan won’t permit her to attend school there.”

“Why?” asked Clarence.