enough in the case of one who had shown so little reluctance to say
and do the thing which he could not maintain or defend--to avail
himself of some means for requiting, to the uttermost farthing,
the landlord, to whose hospitality he might be indebted during his
stay in Charlemont.

Such are the contradictions of character which hourly detect and
describe the mere worldling--the man lacking in all principle, but
that which is subservient to his selfish policy. To accept money
or money's worth from a stranger, seemed mean and humbling to one,
who did not hesitate, in the promotion of a scheme, which, had
treachery for its object, to clothe himself in the garments of
deception, and to make his appearance with a lie festering upon
his lips. That evening, Alfred Stevens became, with his worthier
companion, an inmate of the happy dwelling of William Hinkley, the
elder--a venerable, white-headed father, whose whole life had made
him worthy of a far higher eulogium than that which John Cross had
pronounced upon him.

The delight of the family to see their reverend teacher was heartfelt
and unreserved. A vigorous gripe of the hand, by the elder dragged
him into the house, and a sentence of unusual length, from his
better half, assured him of that welcome which the blunter action
of her venerable husband had already sufficiently declared. Nor
was the young adventurer who accompanied the preacher, suffered
to remain long unconsidered. When John Cross had told them who he
was, or rather when he had declared his spiritual hopes in him--which
he did with wonderful unction, in a breath--the reception of old
Hinkley, which had been hospitable enough before, became warm and
benignant; and Brother Stevens already became the word of salutation,