After Clinton had concluded his confession, Master Eaton sat in silence several moments, apparently engaged in deep thought. At length he spoke:—
“This is sad business, Clinton,—sad business. You have been guilty of a series of forgeries, in repeatedly signing another person’s name. You have also aided and encouraged a bad boy in his evil ways, and are to some extent responsible for his wickedness.”
Clinton commenced crying afresh.
“But,” continued the teacher, “there are some extenuating circumstances in the case, which I shall take into consideration. I cannot see as a public exposure of your wrong-doing before the school would be of any benefit to yourself or to others, and I shall spare you that mortification, provided your general conduct continues good. And as to the punishment that the case demands, I will consult with your father before concluding upon it.”
“O no,” exclaimed Clinton, “don’t tell him about it. Punish me in any way you please, and I’ll promise never to offend again, if you wont let father know anything about it.”
Mr. Eaton’s reply was decided, but kindly expressed. “Clinton,” he said, “I have always considered you a youth of good habits, but the disclosures you have just made show that your character has a weak side. You are too easily influenced by others. You can’t say no, when a great temptation presents itself. In my opinion, you have just had a narrow escape from ruin; for who can tell into what evil Jerry would have soon led you, if the spell had not been accidentally broken? Now your father is ignorant of all this. He has no idea, probably, of the dangers to which you are exposed; but he ought to know the facts in the case, and I should not feel as though I had been faithful to my trust, were I to hush up a matter of so great importance to his and your welfare. No, I cannot think of doing it. The better way would be for you to go to him and confess the whole truth, yourself. If you are really sorry for what you have done, as I suppose you are, you ought to be willing to do this. What do you say to the proposal?”
“If you think I ought to, I will do it,” replied Clinton, somewhat reluctantly; “but I would rather he would not know it.”
“My advice is,” said Mr. Eaton, “that you go home and confess the whole affair to your father to night. If you do so, I shall consider that my duty has been discharged, so far as you are concerned; and shall leave the matter of punishment entirely with your father.”
With these words Mr. Eaton bade his pupil good-night, and both departed for their homes. On his way home, Clinton encountered Jerry, who, suspecting the cause of his detention, had loitered on the road, waiting to learn the truth. Clinton told him they were discovered, but declined giving him any information, or entering into any farther conversation on the subject; and he hurried home, leaving Jerry not a little perplexed at his unusual conduct.