superiority about him, particularly when, as now, his large grey eyes flashed into brightness, and then fell a little, as though conscious that some hidden secret would be read perhaps, did they continue to look into other eyes where truth called for truth; "I don't think you'd mind, sir, if you knew, but I'd rather not tell you."

Well, I trust you to let me help you if in any difficulty," said Mr. Capel; and he passed on with a nod and smile.

Mr. Capel acted on the principle of trust. He knew to doubt a boy was at best an insult to his moral being, whereas to trust him was to raise, as a rule, that self-respect which is the ladder whereby men climb to deeds of great nobility and worth. But for all this Mr. Capel was not quite easy. "Tom seems a nice, well-principled lad," he mused as he continued his homeward walk; "I should not like any harm to happen to him, and I would rather he had not made such a secret of this, but doubtless it is all right. I wish I had a little more of Willie's faith."

CHAPTER III.

'HE day had been very stormy, and Mr. Capel

ΤΗ busy and anxious. He had been called to settle

a quarrel between a husband and wife-he, a hard, brutalized being, from whom drink had sapped every particle of humanity; she, a delicate woman, whose crushing life-sorrows had weakened her powers of endurance, making worse a naturally unhappy temper. Although enabled to settle the terrible dispute (which from angry words had led to blows) and restore some sort of peace to that hopelessly wretched household, the remembrance of the scene he had witnessed lay like a heavy burden on his heart. "How long, O Lord, how long," was his bitter cry, as towards evening he took his way to see Willie. "No bright sunset for the little man to-night," he thought as he looked around at the lowering sky; "but I daresay he has found something else to cheer him. Ah! what a thing is childlike faith!"

Mr. Capel found Willie sitting up in bed. His white cheeks were flushed with an unusual glow of pleasure, and his large eyes were brighter even than

ever.

"Well, little man," said Mr. Capel as he entered,

"you've missed your beautiful sunset to-night, have you not?"

"Yes, sir," said Willie, smiling; "to-day's sunset wasn't there, but still yesterday's was. I never let one go out of my mind until another comes in, then I'm never wanting brightness like."

"I see," said Mr. Capel; "you like to keep past mercies ever before you, so that, however dark the present and the future, the brightness of their memory may make you cheerful and happy. Quite right, my boy. I wish I could always do so too;" and Mr. Capel again yearned for greater childlike faith, and the yearning breathed itself into a prayer, and the strong man was comforted.

"Oh, sir," said Willie, breaking in upon his meditation, "I've got something to tell you! Only fancy! I've found out who the good fairy is who brings me oranges and grapes!"

"Have you?" said Mr. Capel, eagerly; "who is it?"

"Can you guess, sir?" said Willie, looking very merry and mysterious.

"I have guessed so often," said Mr. Capel, "and failed, I think you will have to tell me, Willie.”

'Well, sir, I'll tell you how I found it out.

You

know it was generally in the evening the stranger brought me my surprises, when mother was out. I