ns of morality, promising so fairly, blossoming so
sweetly--"

"He never murdered the pedlar!" cried Jane, whose face was buried in her
apron.

"Who then could have?" replied Furness.

"He never shot him intentionally, I'll swear," said Rushbrook; "if the
pedlar has come to his death, it must have been by some accident. I
suppose the gun went off somehow or other; yes, that must be it: and my
poor boy, frightened at what had taken place, has run away."

"Well," replied the schoolmaster, "such may have been the case; and I do
certainly feel as if it were impossible that a boy like Joey, brought up
by me, grounded in every moral duty--I may add, religiously and piously
instructed--could ever commit such a horrible crime."

"Indeed, he never did," replied Jane; "I am sure he never would do such
a thing."

"Well, I must wish you good-bye now, my poor people; I will go down to
the Cat and Fiddle, and hear what they say," cried the pedagogue,
quitting the cottage.

"Jane, be careful," said Rushbrook; "our great point now is to say
nothing. I wish that man would not come here."

"Oh, Rushbrook!" cried Jane, "what would I give if we could live these
last three days over again."

"Then imagine, Jane, what I would give!" replied Rushbrook, striking his
forehead; "and now say no more about it."

At twelve o'clock the next day the magistrates met, and the coroner's
inquest was held upon the body of the pedlar. On examination of the
body, it was ascertained that a charge of small shot had passed directly
through the heart, so as to occasion immediate death; that the murder
had not been committed with the view of robbing, it was evident, as the
pedlar's purse, watch, and various other articles were found upon his
person.

The first person examined was a man of the name of Green, who had found
the gun in the ditch. The gun was produced, and he deposed to its being
the one which he had picked up, and given into the possession of the
keeper; but no one could say to whom the gun might belong.

The next party who gave his evidence was Lucas, the game-keeper. He
deposed that he knew the pedlar, Byres, and that being anxious to
prevent poaching, he had offered him a good sum if he would assist him
in convicting any poacher; that Byres had then confessed to him that he
had often received game from Rushbrook, the father of the boy, and still
continued to do so, but Rushbrook had treated him ill, and he was
determined to b