"I've been a bit excited to-day, I suppose," he muttered; and then he tried all the known recipes short of drugs for obtaining rest, from saying a speech backwards to getting out of bed and brushing his hair. But sleep would not come till close upon morning, for that face before him was the sweet appealing face of Eve Pelly, and in the stillness of the night he seemed to be hearing her words again and again--"Don't judge dear Richard harshly from what you saw this morning." "Dear Richard, dear Richard, dear Richard"--he found himself repeating over and over again. "And she loves him, and believes in him. He is everything to her, and if she found out that he was a scoundrel it would break her heart." "And set her free," something in the corner of his own seemed to whisper; and he started, and sat up in bed with the perspiration standing on his brow. "Am I sane? Am I in my right senses?" he said, feeling his pulse and counting its beats. "I must be a little out of tone. Humph! I'll have such a walk to-morrow! Bah! it's the excitement of coming down here, and it has been rather a lively day." He punched and turned his pillow fiercely, threw himself down, and closed his eyes once more, shutting out the dimly-seen lattice window, with its fringe of ivy leaves; but as he did so there was Eve Pelly's face again, and that gentle look which accompanied the appealing curve of her lips, as she said, "Don't judge dear Richard harshly." The would-be sleeper started up in bed again, and sat there feeling hot and feverish for some time. "Look here, Murray, dear boy," he said at last. "You are down here for a great purpose. You have here in your charge some four thousand souls to teach and tend, and help on in life's course. Don't fidget, my boy. I'm not going to preach, only to say a few words to the point. Now, look here: You are the spiritual head of the parish; you have your Master's work to do. In short, you are a teacher. Now mind this, a teacher who cannot govern himself is a broken reed. Are you a broken reed?" This was all said in a low voice, and then for a few moments there was silence in the room, to be broken by the young man saying in a somewhat louder voice in answer to his own words: "I hope not." "Good," he continued, in the former tone. "I like that: it sounds humble and hopeful. Now look here, you will see a great deal of what goes on in this place. In fact, you have seen a good deal already, and you have learned what is the state of affairs with one of the principal families. You have heard that Richard Glaire is engaged to his cousin; that the said cousin loves him; and that this weak young man is playing fast and loose." "Yes." "Good. Well, your duty is plain; the young fellow doubtless has his good points. Make him your friend, and improve them--for her sake--gain an influence over him. You can, and you will, Murray Selwood. Yours may be a hard duty, but you must do it."