derstood that I was to
remain two years, before visiting my friends at Elmwood, and although I
became happy and contented, I looked forward with impatience to the time
when I could visit my mother and sister. The two years was nearly past,
and I began to count the weeks and days as the time drew nigh for the
expected visit. I had become as one of the family in the house of my
employer, and had enjoyed much pleasure in the society of my friend
Robert Dalton; the more I saw of him the more I valued his companionship,
indeed he had become to me as an elder brother. He often amused me by
relating incidents of his childhood, and in my turn I talked freely to
him of my distant home and friends.

If Charley Gray left home two years ago in a fit of the sulks, it did
not interfere with our correspondence which had been sustained regularly
on both sides. It was now nearly three years since we had met, and I
looked forward eagerly to our expected meeting, for he was to spend the
holidays at home. When I reached my native village, Charley was the first
to welcome me, having begged the privilege of driving to the depot to
meet me. He had changed much during the two past years. He had grown
tall and manly looking, and a glance at his broad full brow at once told
one that he possessed a powerful intellect; but he was pale and thin
from close application to study, for from a mere boy Charley was a hard
student. As we rode homeward we had much to tell of what had taken place
since our last meeting. I received a joyous welcome from my mother and
sister, and with a feeling of pride I placed in my mother's hand a
considerable sum of money which I had saved carefully for her use,
hoping it might enable her to live without the unceasing toil which had
been her lot for several years. The month I was to spend at home sped
swiftly away, and we all made the most of each passing day. Charley Gray
seemed so cheerful and happy that I began to hope he had outgrown that
jealous and unhappy temper which had formerly been so characteristic
of him; but in this I was mistaken as I soon had abundant cause to
realize. That serpent in his bosom was not dead, but only slumbered
till aroused by some slight provocation. We were one evening engaged in
a long and familiar conversation, he related many incidents connected
with his school-life, and I also spoke of many things concerning my home
in Montreal; among others I mentioned Robert Dalton, and spoke of the