Mr. Hope surveyed them both with a piercing eye. How uneasy they felt under his glance! He questioned them no more, however, but turned round again towards the fire, and was soon engaged once more in animated conversation with his wife. “Have we done right?” whispered Charles to his brother. “I don’t exactly know. I hope so, for we acted from a good motive. We could not have spoken out, and ruined our friend. I am sure that God will not severely judge an act of kindness and gratitude.” Ah! vain confidence, how many have you led astray! who judge of the Almighty by their own false ideas, instead of His pure unerring Word! Where do we find in the Bible that any sin, committed from any motive whatsoever, finds indulgence from the God of holiness and truth? “I do not feel quite easy,” murmured Charles. “Nor I. Yet I hope that we have not really wandered from the way. I hardly see what else we could have done.” The servants now brought in tea and coffee. Clementina, looking tired and out of spirits, came into the drawing-room, and was almost immediately followed by Mr. Ewart. “Mr. Ewart,” exclaimed Mr. Hope, stopping suddenly in what he was saying on perceiving the entrance of the clergyman, and addressing him in a sharp, stern, decided manner, “allow me to ask you one question.” The tutor silently bowed. “Did you, or did you not, converse yesterday in the park with the butcher Staines?” “I did do so,” replied Mr. Ewart, without hesitation. Ernest bit his lip, till he almost brought blood. “Did you, or did you not, advise him to vote against me?” continued Mr. Hope, in a tone of suppressed fury. “I advised him to vote according to his conscience.” “And you advised these two boys to speak according to their conscience!” exclaimed Mr. Hope, in a voice that made the room ring. “You, the instructor of youth—you, the pattern of strict morality—you have taught your pupils to be hypocrites and liars; you have corrupted their unsuspicious minds—” [Illustration: THE DISMISSAL.] “Sir,” said Mr. Ewart, with dignity; but Mr. Hope was too furious to listen. “I say that you have corrupted them—ruined their principles. Your conduct to me I could pass over; but I cannot leave my nephews one day longer in the hands of one who would teach them to be hypocrites. You leave the castle to-morrow, sir,—” “Oh, uncle!—Mr. Hope!” cried Ernest and Charles, springing forward, “Mr. Ewart knew nothing of it; it was we—it was I.” “There is no use speaking,” cried the indignant candidate. “From your conduct, I must judge of the instructions which you have received. Two of my family to be guilty of deliberate falsehood!—Sir,” he continued, turning towards Mr. Ewart, “you have heard my unalterable decision. You quit the castle to-morrow.” Mr. Ewart bowed gravely, and retired to his own apartment, followed by the almost heart-broken boys. CHAPTER XXIII. REGRETS, BUT NOT DESPAIR.