He rung the bell at the basement door as he spoke.  A voice from within bade him enter.  He did so, and found himself in a neat room, furnished with many books.  A middle-aged gentleman sat at a table writing, but laid down his pen in order to see what the intruder wanted.  William stated his errand.

“Ah, yes; shoes,” said the gentleman; “I do not know anything about them; my wife is not at home, but you can come again to-morrow, and see what she says.  You look tired; there is a shilling for you.”

William took the money, but as he did so blushed deeply, and seemed about to return it.

“Why, what is the matter, boy?” asked the gentleman; “do not you think it enough?”

“O no, sir; indeed not that; indeed it is more than enough; but—­”

“But what?” inquired the gentleman.

“I do not want to take it now, so I will send somebody—­a little boy—­for it to-morrow.”

The gentleman, who now began to suspect that all was not right, looked very grave, as he repeated the words, “You will send for it to-morrow.  Boy, tell me what this means.  It is certainly very strange behaviour.  Nay, you cannot go until you tell me.”

William saw it was best to tell the truth, and he did so in as straightforward a way as possible; and stating at the close that as he believed he should be questioned whether or not he had received money, he preferred the gentleman should give it to a boy whom he would send, so that he might be able to say with truth he had not received any money.

“Your motive is a good one,” said the gentleman; “but you must be very careful, lest, while you are serving your fellow-creatures, you offend God.  Truth in all things, my boy; let the truth always be spoken, and leave the issue to One who is himself the Truth.  No matter under how amiable a pretext any one violates the divine law; it is no less a violation of that pure and holy law; and although there are many who consider that only the falsely spoken word which passes over the lips is a lie, there are many other ways of outraging the truth.  The acted lie, perhaps more common than the spoken, is not less hateful in the sight of Him who is of purer eyes than to behold sin without abhorrence; and all deception, however skilfully veiled from human perception, is falsehood in his sight.”

“I am sorry, sir,” said William; “but I did not know how else to do; I did not know that would be lying.”

“It would be a shifting of the truth, an evasion,” said Mr. Stewart.  “If you hope to run your earthly career with safety or success, let truth be the foundation on which you build it.  Falsehood must have an end, but truth will triumph.  Then why distort, or seek to disguise it, since the Scriptures tell us that ’obeying the truth purifies the soul?’ ’Who shall abide in God’s holy hill? who shall dwell in his tabernacle?  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.’  Here is your money, to do with as you please:  you can send the boy, however, to me; if he is as poor as you say, he must be looked after.”