the curate's home with a kindred
feeling for him; for was he not, too, a messenger, sent "to minister for
them who shall be heirs of salvation"?

ALF.

CHAPTER I.

A FOOLISH RESOLVE.

Tall, handsome, and young; that one saw at a single glance. The age of
the lad it was not easy to determine. The mind wavered between sixteen
and nineteen, but sixteen it really was. It was no true Swedish face,
yet such faces are often found among the fair children of the North. The
boy had a clear, dark complexion, and his waving hair was intensely
black. His nose was decided, but there was a weakness about the small
mouth that seemed quite inconsistent with the fiery glance of the full
brown eyes.

It was late, yet he was sitting looking steadily before him, while his
thoughts were evidently wandering. "_So_ they want me to promise, and
_so_ they want me to live?" he said at last. "I cannot make promises I
do not mean to keep. I can do many things, but I cannot take a false
position as to what I intend to be." He stood up and straightened his
whole person with an admiring self-respect as he spoke.

_He_ would not be compelled by public opinion to do that for which he
was not inclined! He was old enough to choose for himself, and choose he
would! He would not be confirmed! He would not assume obligations
contrary to his wishes, and make professions he did not honestly mean!
There seemed to him to be in this something noble, something determined,
something manly, and he pleasantly reflected upon his righteous
independence.

The confirmation was appointed for the morrow. He had seen the slender,
swift horse that was to be his--a gift from his father. He knew a gold
watch was lying in his mother's drawer, to be one of his many presents
to commemorate the important occasion. The guests were invited for the
splendid dinner his parents were to give in his honour. He would be
expected to appear in one of the stylish new suits provided for him as
now a fully-grown young gentleman. He would be toasted, complimented,
and, in short, the hero of the day in that beautiful home. He knew that
his mother had retired early. She was doubtless praying for him then,
and would be on the morrow. She, at least, would expect him to keep his
promises. She should know that he would not disgrace her by a false
oath.

His pocket-book was well filled by a munificent present from his
grand-uncle in America. He could go where he pleased. He t