MR. S. Don't be alarmed, madam. It is his heart that is to be put to the
trial; reverses and adversity often soften the heart; when one has
suffered, he knows better how to pity the deprivations and sufferings of
others. Your son has never been contradicted; he may be unkind and cruel
sometimes from thoughtlessness and ignorance. Now, let us put his heart
to a severe trial. Let us pretend that he is Mary's son, and Morris is
really your son. Push the experiment so far as to send him to live with
her, until he is thoroughly humbled, and his faults disappear.

MARY (_starting up_). Oh, no! no! Your trial may all be very fine, but I
will not lend myself to it. No, sir. We are not rich, but we have always
been honest, and I will not have anybody suppose for a moment that I
could have committed such a dishonorable, such an unnatural act. Say
that Morris is not my son? If I should join in such a trick, my husband
would hate and despise me, and rightly too.

MR. S. But, nurse, you forget. It is only supposing.

MARY. Suppose as much as you please, sir; even the suspicion of such a
plot would blacken my name forever. Oh! would any woman deny her own
child?

MRS. L. Listen to me, Mary. I love Edward as much as you do Morris. Do
you think I would abandon my child or disgrace you? Far from despising
you, I shall take care to let everybody know the sacrifice you are
making for my son's sake; and every one will praise you for helping me,
and believe that love for Edward has alone induced you to consent to
this plan. If he should grow up to be a man with such selfish, cruel
ways, it will break my heart. I should be in my grave before many years,
killed by the misconduct of my only child. I have but one objection to
what we are about to do. We shall practise a deception.

MARY (_weeping_). Oh, ma'am, and my son, my poor little Morris, he too
must be deceived; he cannot be in the secret.

MRS. L. I will try to make him happy. I will treat him like my own
child. Remember it is only for a week or two, perhaps only for a day or
two.

MARY. Oh yes, ma'am, I know you will be kind; but suppose in that week,
your fine house, your gay clothes, your grand dinners and suppers should
turn his head, and ruin his loving heart for his parents. If he should
return to us, despising our humble life,--oh! I can't bear it! My child
would be worse than lost to me!

MRS. L. Fear nothing, Mary. Morris is an excellent boy, and not so
easily spoil