was directly in
front of the hydrant, and Arthur's back had in the first place been
toward it, whoever was there had evidently feared detection, when he
should turn round, and so fled.

Into this court the long windows of the back part of the store opened,
and it was this way that Minny had found egress on the night of her
visit to Wilkins; and it was this way that Jeff, whose invariable
honesty rendered him a privileged character about the place, always
found egress on Sundays, and other hours when the store was closed.

Musing upon the circumstances which had just occurred, Arthur took the
way to his room, and flung himself upon his bed.

It was easy to see what had been Guly's occupation during the previous
day of loneliness. There lay the Bible open, on the little rough stand;
there was the strip of carpet rumpled before the chair, where he had
been kneeling--and there was the folded letter, sealed and directed to
his mother.

Arthur turned upon his pillow with a moan. How differently had his
Sabbath been spent, and how different, in consequence, were his Monday
morning reflections! But his sorrow was not a repentant sorrow. It had
been in the morning, when he first met Guly and Wilkins, but he was
changed now. Had he not been rebuked harshly by his employer, in the
presence of all the clerks? Had he not been openly accused of the error
he had committed, read through and through by those cold, staring eyes?
Had not the attention of all the clerks been turned towards him, and his
secret been laid bare to them by the merchant's reproof, and quick,
malicious glances?

There was no longer any need of further concealment, with the resolution
of future improvement--it was all known--and to draw back henceforth,
would be but to be reminded that he had already fallen once, and could
never retake the step he had made. Such was the view Arthur took of the
case, however false a light his pride may have cast upon it; and he
buried his face, with the glow of shame upon it, deep in the pillow,
while, with bitter resentment, his young heart traced it all back to the
primal cause--the contemptuous repulse he had met with at Delancey's pew
door.

It is not a question for reflection, where the punishment for Arthur's
first real sin should rest? Was it for that young heart, till now free
from all taint or corruption, save the corruption of pride, to suffer
alone? or was it for the older and stronger spirit--the spirit stronger