It is unnecessary and would prove tedious to the reader as well as to myself, were I to give a detailed account of the two first years of my residence in the city of Montreal.  It had been understood that I was to remain two years, before visiting my friends at Elmwood, and although I became happy and contented, I looked forward with impatience to the time when I could visit my mother and sister.  The two years was nearly past, and I began to count the weeks and days as the time drew nigh for the expected visit.  I had become as one of the family in the house of my employer, and had enjoyed much pleasure in the society of my friend Robert Dalton; the more I saw of him the more I valued his companionship, indeed he had become to me as an elder brother.  He often amused me by relating incidents of his childhood, and in my turn I talked freely to him of my distant home and friends.

If Charley Gray left home two years ago in a fit of the sulks, it did not interfere with our correspondence which had been sustained regularly on both sides.  It was now nearly three years since we had met, and I looked forward eagerly to our expected meeting, for he was to spend the holidays at home.  When I reached my native village, Charley was the first to welcome me, having begged the privilege of driving to the depot to meet me.  He had changed much during the two past years.  He had grown tall and manly looking, and a glance at his broad full brow at once told one that he possessed a powerful intellect; but he was pale and thin from close application to study, for from a mere boy Charley was a hard student.  As we rode homeward we had much to tell of what had taken place since our last meeting.  I received a joyous welcome from my mother and sister, and with a feeling of pride I placed in my mother’s hand a considerable sum of money which I had saved carefully for her use, hoping it might enable her to live without the unceasing toil which had been her lot for several years.  The month I was to spend at home sped swiftly away, and we all made the most of each passing day.  Charley Gray seemed so cheerful and happy that I began to hope he had outgrown that jealous and unhappy temper which had formerly been so characteristic of him; but in this I was mistaken as I soon had abundant cause to realize.  That serpent in his bosom was not dead, but only slumbered till aroused by some slight provocation.  We were one evening engaged in a long and familiar conversation, he related many incidents connected with his school-life, and I also spoke of many things concerning my home in Montreal; among others I mentioned Robert Dalton, and spoke of the friendship between us which began at Fulton Academy and which was so pleasingly renewed in the city of Montreal.  I had for the moment forgotten Charley’s peculiar and exclusive nature, and dwelt at considerable length on the good qualities of my absent friend, till checked by the dark frown which suddenly gathered upon