ARTHUR
4

My wife's premonition was still a stronger supporter of this young man. He will vouch, he said, in front of any court, for he is innocent; but he willingly agrees with me to allow him to continue our friendship unconditionally other than the revelation of the truth. In order to entitle ourselves to this trust, we are willing to engage, in turn, to maintain confidentiality, to the extent that there is no loss to be gained from this disclosure for himself or his friend.

The next morning, at breakfast, our guest appeared with a face that showed less shame than last night. His attention was especially distracted by his own thoughts, and little was said until breakfast was put away. I then reminded him of the events of the previous day, and mentioned that the anxiety that appeared to us was better to increase rather than decrease over time.

"There is in your power, my young friend," I continued, "to add to this restlessness, or to eliminate it altogether. I have no personal acquaintance with Thomas. I have been told by others that his character, for a period of time, was honorable, but, in the end, he made a huge debt and instead of paying it, he ran away. You, it seems, live with him. On the eve of his departure, you are known to have accompanied him across the river and this seems to be the first of his reappearance. Thomas's behavior is dishonest. He must definitely be taken to his soul hospital and forced to return his winning money. You confess that you know his place of protection, but insist on a promise of confidentiality. Did you not know that to help or conspire to escape this person is wrong? Promising to support concealment and impunity by remaining silent only exacerbates this mistake. But that is the past. Your youth and your hitherto unexplained circumstances may apologize for the mistake; but it is of course your duty to correct it to the fullest. Think, whether by revealing what you know, you're not going to fix it."

"I've thought about it most of the night" said the young man, "in contemplating this, I've reached a resolution, before you speak, to tell you my simple story. I understand in what circumstances I am placed, and that I can maintain your good opinion only with an honest attitude. I have indeed given false, or rather unreasonable, promises on the other hand and within myself to give; but nothing else but the most important consideration will persuade me to break my promise. No injuries will arise from my disclosure to Thomas. If it should be, dishonest like him, it would be reason enough to shut me up. Wortley will not, to any degree, benefit from any communication I can make Whether I provide or withhold information, my behavior will only affect my own happiness, she said, and that influence will justify me in giving it.

"Thomas, despite his passion and respect for me, was unfairly probably still a good person; but I had no desire to make him one of my auditors. You, Master, may, if you think it right, relate to him afterwards the particulars about Thomas that may be important to know; but right now it would be better if your generosity would support me to the end of this boring but simple story."

My Eliza's eyes sparkled with this proposal. He regarded this young man with fraternal affection, and considered his straightforwardness, in this case, as a test of his honesty. He is ready to hear and forgive mistakes due to his lack of experience and outpouring of heart. I did not fully participate in his satisfaction, but nevertheless, was very excited to listen to his story.