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doctor could not help observing； generally did attend Norman。 And
Norman had been so happy with Richard； the kind； wise elder brother
had done exactly what was best for him in soothing his anxiety； and
had fully shared his feelings； and exulted in his success。 Margaret
had a most triumphant letter； dwelling on the abilities of the
candidates whom Norman had outstripped； and the idea that every one
had conceived of his talent。 〃Indeed；〃 wrote Richard； 〃I fancy the
men had never believed that I could have a clever brother。 I am glad
they have seen what Norman can do。〃
Margaret could not help reading this aloud； and it made Norman blush
with the compunction that Richard's unselfish pride in him always
excited。 He had much to tell of his ecstasy with Oxford。
Stoneborough Minster had been a training in appreciation of its hoary
beauty； but the essentially prosaic Richard had never prepared him
for the impression that the reverend old university made on him； and
he was already； heart and soul； one of her most loyal and loving
sons； speaking of his college and of the whole university as one who
had a right of property in them； and looking； all the time； not
elated； but contented； as if he had found his sphere and was
satisfied。 He had seen Cheviot； too； and had been very happy in the
renewed friendship； and had been claimed as a cousin by a Balliol
man； a certain Norman Ogilvie； a name well known among the Mays。
〃And how has Tom been getting on？〃 he asked； when he returned to home
affairs。
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 said Ethel。 〃He will not have my help。〃
〃Not let you help him！〃 exclaimed Norman。
〃No。 He says he wants no girls；〃 said Ethel； laughing。
〃Foolish fellow！〃 said Norman。 〃I wonder what sort of work he has
made！〃
〃Very funny； I should think；〃 said Ethel； 〃judging by the verses I
could see。〃
The little； pale； rough…haired Tom； in his perpetual coating of dust；
softly crept into the room； as if he only wanted to elude
observation； but Mary and Blanche were at once vociferating their
news in his ears； though with little encouragementhe only shook
them off abruptly； and would not answer when they required him to be
glad。
Norman stretched out his arm； intercepting him as he was making for
his hiding…place behind Dr。 May's arm…chair。
〃Come； August； how have things gone on？〃
〃Oh！ I don't know。〃
〃What's your place？〃
〃Thirteenth！〃 muttered Tom in his throat； and well he might； for two
or three voices cried out that was too bad； and that it was all his
own fault； for not accepting Ethel's help。 He took little heed； but
crept to his corner without another word； and Mary knew she should be
thumped if she should torment him there。
Norman left him alone； but the coldness of the little brother for
whom he had worked gave a greater chill to his pleasure than he could
have supposed possible。 He would rather have had some cordiality on
Tom's part； than all the congratulations that met him the next day。
He could not rest contented while Tom continued to shrink from him；
and he was the more uneasy when； on Saturday morning； no calls from
Mary availed to find the little boy； and bring him to the usual
reading and Catechism。
Margaret decided that they must begin without him； and poor Mary's
verse was read； in consequence； with a most dolorous tone。 As soon
as the books were shut； she ran off； and a few words passed among the
elder ones about the truantFlora opining that the Andersons had led
him away； Ethel suggesting that his gloom must arise from his not
being well； and Margaret looking wistfully at Norman； and saying she
feared they had judged much amiss last spring。 Norman heard in
silence； and walked thoughtfully into the garden。 Presently he
caught Mary's voice in expostulation： 〃How could you not come to
read？〃
〃Girls' work！〃 growled another voice； out of sight。
〃But Norman； and Richard； and Harry； always come to the reading。
Everybody ought。〃
Norman； who was going round the shrubs that concealed the speakers
from him； here lost their voices； but； as he emerged in front of the
old tool…house； he heard a little scream from Mary； and； at the same
moment； she darted back； and fell over a heap of cabbage…stumps in
front of the old tool…house。 It was no small surprise to her to be
raised by him； and tenderly asked whether she were hurt。 She was not
hurt； but she could not speak without crying； and when Norman begged
to hear what was the matter； and where Tom was； she would only plead
for himthat he did not intend to hurt her； and that she had been
teasing him。 What had he done to frighten her？ Oh！ he had only run
at her with a hoe； because she was troublesome； she did not mind it；
and Norman must notand she clung to him as if to keep him back；
while he pursued his researches in the tool…house； where； nearly
concealed by a great bushel…basket； lurked Master Thomas； crouching
down； with a volume of Gil Bias in his hand。
〃You here； Tom！ What have you hidden yourself here for？ What can
make you so savage to Mary？〃
〃She should not bother me；〃 said Tom sulkily。
Norman sent Mary away； pacifying her by promises that he would not
revenge her quarrel upon Tom； and then； turning the basket upside
down； and perching himself astride on it； he began： 〃That is the
kindest； most forgiving little sister I ever did see。 What possesses
you to treat her so ill？〃
〃I wasn't going to hurt her。〃
〃But why drive her away？ Why don't you come to read？〃 No answer；
and Norman； for a moment； felt as if Tom were really hopelessly ill…
conditioned and sullen； but he persevered in restraining his desire
to cuff the ill…humour out of him； and continued； 〃Come！ there's
something wrong； and you will never be better till it is out。 Tell
medon't be afraid。 Those fellows have been at you again？〃
He took Tom by the arm to draw him nearer； but a cry and start of
pain were the result。 〃So they have licked you？ Eh？ What have they
been doing？〃
〃They said they would spiflicate me if I told！〃 sighed Tom。
〃They shall never do anything to you；〃 and； by…and…by； a sobbing
confession was drawn forth； muttered at intervals； as low as if Tom
expected the strings of onions to hear and betray him to his foes。
Looking on him as a deserter； these town…boys had taken advantage of
his brother's absence to heap on him every misery they could inflict。
There had been a wager between Edward Anderson and Sam Axworthy as to
what Tom could be made to do； and his personal timidity made him a
miserable victim； not merely beaten and bruised； but forced to
transgress every rule of right and wrong that had been enforced on
his conscience。 On Sunday； they had profited by the absence of their
dux to have a jollification at a little public…house； not far from
the playing…fields； and here had Tom been dragged in； forced to
partake with them； and frightened with threats that he had treated
them all； and was liable to pay the whole bill； which； of course； he
firmly believed； as well as that he should be at least half murdered
if he gave his father any suspicion that the whole had not been
consumed by himself。 Now； though poor Tom's co