“It is quite sincere, Mr. Crabb, and I hope my good wishes may bring you the advantage which I have in view.”

“Thank you, Roscoe.  I don’t blame you for being disgusted with the management of the school.  You have yourself suffered injustice.”

“Yes; in writing home, and charging me with theft, before he had investigated the circumstances, Mr. Smith did me a great injustice.  I doubt whether he has since written to correct the false charge, as I required him to do.  If not, I shall owe it to myself to leave the school.”

“You will be justified in doing so.”  The next day brought Hector two letters.  One was from Allan Roscoe, and read as follows: 

“Hector:  I have received from your worthy teacher a letter which has filled me with grief and displeasure.  I knew you had great faults, but I did not dream that you would stoop so low as to purloin money, as it seems you have done.  Mr. Smith writes me that there is no room to doubt your guilt.  He himself discovered in the pocket of your pantaloons a wallet containing a large sum of money, which he had missed only a short time before.  He learned that you had entered his chamber, and taken the money, being tempted by your own dishonest and depraved heart.

“I cannot express the shame I feel at this revelation of baseness.  I am truly glad that you are not connected with me by blood.  Yet I cannot forget that my poor brother treated you as a son; and took pains to train you up in right ideas.  It would give him deep pain could he know how the boy whom he so heaped with benefits has turned out!  I may say that Guy is as much shocked as I am, but he, it seems, had a better knowledge of you than I; for he tells me he is not surprised to hear it.  I confess I am, for I thought better of you.

“Under the circumstances I shall not feel justified in doing for you as much as I intended.  I proposed to keep you at school for two years more, but I have now to announce that this is your last term, and I advise you to make the most of it.  I will try, when the term closes, to find some situation for you, where your employer’s money will not pass through your hands.  Allan Roscoe.”

Hector read the letter with conflicting feelings, the most prominent being indignation and contempt for the man who so easily allowed himself to think evil of him.

The other letter he found more satisfactory.

It was from his young friend in New York, Walter Boss.  As it is short, I subjoin it: 

“Dear Hector:  I am ever so glad to hear from you, but I should like much better to see you.  I read to papa what you said of Mr. Crabb, and he says it is very apropos, as he had made up his mind to get me a tutor.  I am rather backward, you see, not having your taste for study, and papa thinks I need special attention.  He says that your recommendation is sufficient, and he will engage Mr. Crabb without any further inquiry; and he says he can come at once.  He will give him sixty dollars a month and board, and he will have considerable time for himself, if he wants to study law or any other profession.  I don’t know but a cousin may join me in my studies, in which case he will pay a hundred dollars per month, if that will be sastisfactory.