William, by this sudden movement, was thrown completely off his guard, and anger, fierce and violent anger at such an outrage, took possession of his soul.  Well was it for him that time was not allowed him to speak, for he would have uttered words afterwards greatly to be regretted.  A few moments, however, were sufficient to quell the tempest.  “Doest thou well to be angry?” were the words that arose first to his mind; and with them came also thoughts of One who taught, “Resist not evil,” nor render railing for railing.  But why should such cruelty have been shown to the poor kitten? and the thought that perhaps he had done wrong in keeping it without Mrs. Walters’ permission gave him great pain.  If so, he was content to bear any outpouring of her wrath without endeavouring to excuse himself; but still, he was determined to tell her how he had procured the milk for his kitten, lest she should think him a thief.

As he sat bending over his work, one tear after another fell upon the leather he was hammering, and his evident distress awoke the compassion of Jem Taylor, who, as we have already said, was not hard-hearted, and was always ready to pity the poor boy, who suffered daily under the iron rule of those who cared not for the happiness or misery which were in their keeping.  We cannot follow the journeyman very far through life, but let us hope that the mercy which is extended unto all reached unto him, and taught him how evil were his ways.  The time, however, was not now.  The law of God had not been impressed on his heart in childhood; he looked upon lying as a venial offence, and had never learned that “no one who worketh abomination or maketh a lie shall dwell in the city of which God is the glory and the light.”  Happy was it for our poor hero that the good seed had been sown early and prayerfully by his humble but pious parents; but for this he must have fallen before the tempter.

Mr. Walters had gone out to purchase leather, and the time was favourable for the thoughtless journeyman to pour in the poison so well calculated to destroy the soul.  “That’s a terrible tempered woman, Bill,” said he, “and if I was in your place I would run away.  How she did pitch your poor cat into the street!  If it had been mine, I tell you, I would teach her better in future:  instead of sitting there and crying like a great baby, I would plan how I could help myself.  Why could not you have told her you did not know anything about the cat?  Cats run about everywhere; and where people are so hard as old Walters and his wife, a little lying is no harm.  It is very silly in you always to tell the truth.  The old man, indeed, does not ask you for your money now; but when she wants to borrow it, you never tell her you have none, although any one can see you do not like to give it.  Now, quit being such a fool, and take care of number one.  I can tell you of a variety of ways in which you can cheat her.”