I found that Alfred Hamilton knew something about it." "Who is Alfred Hamilton ?" asked Mrs.Paget.
"A little boy, ma'am, at school." "And he found it out--and didn't he tell of it ?" "I did not wish him," replied Louis, with less reserve.

"It would have been very unkind to poor Ferrers; he would have been expelled.
Alfred was going to tell, but you would not have wished him to do it, I am sure." Ah Louis, Louis! anxiety for Ferrers' reputation was quite lost in the selfish desire of admiration.

Mrs.Paget put her arm round him, and her kindly eyes nearly overflowed with affectionate emotion, for she, poor lady, could only see the surface; the inward workings of the little vain heart were hid from her, or she would have been surprised to find under the appearance of sweetness and humility, Louis was only thinking of seeming lovely and amiable in her eyes.
"No, my darling, I know you could not do any thing unkind--you are a sweet, dear creature, and I am sure I love you; and so this Master Ferrers never spoke the truth, and you bore the blame ?" "He did at last, ma'am, at the end of the half-year: but it was not very long to bear it, only five weeks." "_Only!_ I wonder you could have done it for so long; Ferrers, that was the name, was it ?" "If you please, don't mention it," exclaimed Louis, with unaffected earnestness; "I did not mean to say his name.

Please, dear Mrs.Paget, do not mention it.

He is so very sorry, and confessed all so handsomely--I think you would like him if you knew all about him, for he is not so bad as others make him out to be." Mrs.Paget had only time to give him a kind of half promise, when she was called away; and Louis, left to himself, became aware of the vanity his foolish heart had persuaded him was Christian kindness.