"You have, indeed, done me a favor. And is this the way you seek revenge?"
"I think it is the best sort of revenge."
"I believe you, Fred; but very few ever practise it."
"It is more satisfactory in the end, and moreover is right."
"Very true, but it is hard to act upon such a theory. Suppose Simmons is guilty, should I forgive him and do him a kindness?"
"That would be quite a different case. His act would be crime, and should, therefore, be punished. You could feel sorry for him, though, that he had acted so unwisely."
"Yes, I think you are right," answered the merchant mechanically, while his mind seemed to be struggling with another problem.
"Fred, I have wronged you cruelly," he continued, "and your generous spirit has touched me as nothing else has since I was a boy like yourself. I discharged you, practically accusing you of dishonesty, but now I know you were innocent. Your reputation was so injured that you could get no position in a store, and were obliged to seek employment in the factory. Then I had you arrested, charged with the grave offense of burning my store. Can you forgive me, Fred, for having wronged you so?"
"I can and will do so cheerfully," answered our hero, "for I believe you acted from your honest belief at the time."
"Yes, I did, but I should have had more charity, and more consideration for your welfare."