pressed her approbation of his acquaintance; and Colin received his mother's permission to invite Stuart to the house, which was accordingly done, and Stuart occasionally spent an evening or a night at Purly-knoll.

There was an apparent difference in the conduct of Colin when at home from that which he manifested at school. Perhaps the good-natured simplicity and mildness of Stuart tended much to dispel the cloud of sorrow which sometimes hung on his brow. When in company with Stuart in the evenings, he was not only goodhumoured but cheerful; and they passed the time assisting each other in their respective studies, and talking over the incidents which had occurred in school.

James did not entertain such a high opinion of Colin Dowell as his brother. He mistook his real character for pride, and was on that account careless of his friendship.

The next we have to introduce is Richard

Valeburn. He was of the same age with James. His father was factor and landsurveyor on the estate of a neighbouring freeholder. Mr. Valeburn was not possessed of great affluence, but was regarded by the inhabitants of Homeston as a worthy respectable gentleman. He discharged

the duties of factor with honour and fidelity. He never wished to ingratiate himself with his constituent by an overstretched exercise of power,-by imposing on industrious tenants excessive rents, or causing ruinous law expenses to be incurred for a trifling unintentional violation of their engagements-a character which, by the by, is rarely conspicuous in many factors nowadays. Mr. Valeburn was rather advanced in years when he married his only children were his son Richard and a daughter named Eliza, who was at this time only a few years old.

Richard Valeburn was of a good-natured disposition, and carried his mildness and

forbearance almost to simplicity. Though he was fond of participating in the sports of his schoolfellows, yet he never countenanced them in any of their mischievous. His pleasant manners and cheer

scenes.

ful temper rendered him a particular favourite among them, as he tended to exhilarate their hours of recreation. He could not be called a bad scholar; but it must be confessed that he did not sometimes relish the tasks of the school so much as he did the sports of his companions. James and he were very intimate, from the circumstance of studying the same books in Latin, and also from Stuart assisting both at the same time in preparing their exercises.

Another member of the school of Homeston we have to take notice of is Stays Maclachlan. This young man was some months older than the others. His father, now deceased, was laird of Drumdibble, a small estate in the neighbourhood of Homeston. His mother resided on the

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estate, and foolishly allowing her son all manner of indulgence, he became petulant and mischievous. Being a noted boxer, he was of course the champion of the school, and many of the scholars on this account conceived it an honour to be admitted as his acquaintance.

He

It would certainly be an improper criterion, to judge of the future conduct of a boy from his behaviour at school. may be mischievous when young, and afterwards become a worthy and exemplary character; and, vice versa, he may be the best boy at school, and afterwards turn out to be a very bad man. But we must do Stays Maclachlan all manner of justice, and state fairly what he was. He was the leader of all the sports and games which took place at school intervals. school he trifled his time in talking of them, and hindered himself and others from attending to their studies. He had indeed no great desire for learning; and were it not that his attendance at school

In

required that he should do something, he would gladly have relinquished his education altogether. As it was, his exercises were inaccurately and imperfectly performed. He rejoiced as much at a holiday-when the teacher allowed the scholars an occasional relaxation-as a captive who had procured liberty after having been for years confined in a dungeon. In short, he was indifferent to learning, and thoughtless of its importance. He formed acquaintances at school without any regard to their rank or character. Of these our hero was one, and chiefly because he could not do without him; for though he was not a much better scholar than Stays, yet the assistance he derived from his brother enabled him to be useful to some of his schoolfellows, and he often took pleasure in extending his aid to Stays Maclachlan, who was not ignorant of this kindness, from the repeated necessities of his case; and therefore he considered James as a parti

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