with which he sang. Not a little nerve and care were needed for such a trial of his powers, but Charlie had well practised his part, and was not nervous.

In conclusion more prayers were read, followed by a short address from the Precentor, who likewise pronounced the benediction.

"How did you like it, Guardie ?" asked Arthur, as they returned.

"I should have enjoyed it more if old Jackson hadn't taken O thou that tellest.' He's such a queer singer. I daresay he had a fine voice once upon a time; but it's a thing of the past. Look here, Guardie, if there's a long run in anything, and he wants to take breath, he stops altogether, and he gets flat too."

"Did you hear him sing the concluding cadence ?" asked Charlie.

"Yes, what of that?

"He thinks himself cleverer than Handel, at least he acts as if he does, for he alters it to suit his fancy. Do you think it right, Dr. Leslie, for one like Mr. Jackson, who knows nothing of musical composition, to interfere with Handel's text?"

I

"I'm hardly a judge of such matters, Charlie, but it seems to me Handel's text could scarcely be improved. didn't admire his cadence, it was strangely jumbled and confused."

"I'll sing the correct one when we get home," said Charlie, "then you shall hear the difference."

"Guardie, Charlie has but another week with us; I

wish you would let me have a party," asked Arthur, when they reached home.

"Whom would you invite to your party ?"

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Dysie, Pat and Jackie, the two Everards and Durand. He does tell such tales, does Louis, about the Neapolitans. He's been in France, too, and says he does like frogs. He says he once passed through Switzerland, and on the French frontier they were obliged to stay a night at an inn. They brought them something dished up, for dinner, and Louis says he thought it was chicken, it was so white and tender. After dinner he asked his papa what they had been eating, and M. Durand said "frogs." I told him I couldn't fancy them, but he says if nobody told me I shouldn't know. They're not like our frogs, they're a great deal larger, and very fleshy. He has seen an eruption of Vesuvius, and he says his papa found some half-melted lava and put a coin in it, and the impression is there still in the lava. He says it does look grand, especially in the night, when all is dark, and the flames and showers of red-hot stones keep bursting from the crater. Guardie, may I invite them ?”

"Dysart Leland you certainly may, the others I will think about, and let you know."

"I wish I could keep Charlie altogether. I wish you would ask Mr. Leland to let him stay here."

"Arthur! I am surprised at your selfishness. Other people like his company, and the Lelands have known him longer than we have. I could not think of asking Mr. Leland such a thing. I don't think little Dysie would thank me much were I to do so. No, Arthur, you are

wrong. I quite agree with your affection for Charlie; but not with your desire to monopolize him, and keep him away from his other friend."

Arthur looked slightly put out at this refusal of his request; a frown gathered on his brow, and his dark eyes flashed.

The doctor noted these threatening signs, and said, in gentle, soothing tones-"Better is he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.”

To this, no answer was vouchsafed, and Arthur walked to the fire, into which he gazed intently for some few minutes, his guardian watching him with an expression of pain on his face, meanwhile.

"How like his father," he thought to himself.

At length the boy came to his side, his little lips compressed, and placing his hand in that of his guardian, said in a somewhat constrained tone of voice, "You are right, Dr. Leslie, I will try not to be selfish."

"A good resolution, my Arthur. Why did you walk

"I didn't want to speak until I had mastered my temper."

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A very good plan, my dear; let that always be followed by you. Never speak until you are calmed down. Dear child, you have pleased me much; I see my endeavours to teach you self-control are not thrown away. Persevere, and in time you will obtain the mastery over all your passions, and that is very necessary. Indeed, without that self-control, life must prove a failure. Artie, dear little boy, you must ask the Holy One to help you, in this Q

difficult task. You are now, to me, as a son, my child—” "Oh, Guardie, Katie and I wish to ask you something," interrupted Arthur.

"What is it, dear?"

"You are as kind as a father to us. We should like so much to call you papa if you will let us. Please do."

"If you wish it, my boy, I have no objection. Indeed, I believe I should like it, my little son."

"And I will try to be a good son to you, papa," said Arthur, "and I'm quite sure Katie will be a good little daughter. Somehow or other, it comes more natural to her to be good, than it does to me."

"That is because you are more self-willed than she, but don't let that discourage you, the grandest and noblest characters are those who possess the strongest wills, only with this modification-what without training would be but blind stubbornness, with training becomes firmness in adhering to, and upholding the right. Set your strong will to work, give it your temper to subdue, and it will thus become useful, instead of being a hindrance to you. When you need advice at school, ask it of Charlie, I have perfect confidence in his good judgment, 'a person who can control himself is well-fitted to control others,' and that has been proved in Charlie's case, as you by experience know."

CHAPTER XXII.

CHARLIE'S HEROISM.

AVING promised to consider Arthur's request with regard to his party, Dr. Leslie's mind was soon made up, and to the little fellow's great delight he was allowed to issue notes of invitation to his fellowchoristers. The day fixed was the one before that on which Charlie had arranged to visit Dernham, and a delightful evening the boys spent, Pat provoking much merriment by his comical speeches.

With rather a heavy heart Charlie took his leave on the morrow, Arthur accompanying him to the station, and bidding him "make haste back as soon as he could!"

"I'll do that!" returned Charlie. Poor boy! he did not, could not, feel any great desire to see Mrs. Ellis, and upon his sensitive mind this sorely pressed. Nor did she, in her

turn, manifest any particular pleasure at seeing him once

more.

As they were sitting by the fire one night, she suddenly began. "How old are you?"

"Thirteen next February, grandmother."

"You'll soon have to be thinking what you'll do, when you leave that choir."