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〃Poor Ethel！ What consternation she would be in！ I hope no one
found it out。〃
〃Why； Anderson junior was gaping about in despair for sense for his
verseshe comes on that； and slyly copies a whole set of her old
ones； done when sheNorman； I meanwas in the fifth form。 His
subject was a river； and hers Babylon； but； altering a line or two；
it did just as well。 He never guessed I saw him； and thought he had
done it famously。 He showed them up； and would have got some noted
good mark； but that； by great good luck； Ethel had made two of her
pentameters too short； which he hadn't the wit to find out； thinking
all Norman did must be right。 So he has shown up a girl's verses
isn't that rare？〃 cried Harry； dancing on his chair with triumph。
〃I hope no one knows they were hers？〃
〃Bless you； no！〃 said Harry； who regarded Ethel's attainments as
something contraband。 〃D'ye think I could tell？ No； that's the only
pity； that he can't hear it； but； after all； I don't care for
anything he does； now I know he has shown up a girl's verses。〃
〃Are these verses of poor Ethel's safe at home？〃
〃Yes； I took care of that。 Mind you don't tell anyone； Margaret； I
never told even Norman。〃
〃But all your school…fellows aren't like these？ You have Hector
Ernescliffe。〃
〃He's a nice fellow enough； but he is little； and down in the school。
'Twould be making a fourth form of myself to be after him。 The fact
is； Margaret； they are a low； ungentlemanly lot just now； about sixth
and upper fifth form；〃 said Harry； lowering his voice into an anxious
confidential tone； 〃and since Norman has been less amongst them；
they've got worse； and you see； now home is different； and he isn't
like what he was； I'm thrown on them； and I want to get out of it。 I
didn't know that was it before； but Richard showed me what set me on
thinking of it； and I see she knew all about it。〃
〃That she did！ There is a great deal in what you say； Harry； but you
know she thought nothing would be of real use but changing within。
If you don't get a root of strength in yourself； your ship will be no
better to you than schoolthere will be idle midshipmen as well as
idle school…boys。〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 said Harry； 〃but do you think papa will consent？ She
would not have minded。〃
〃I can't tell。 I should think he would； but if any scheme is to come
to good； it must begin by your telling him of the going out
shooting。〃
Harry sighed。 〃I'd have done it long ago if she was here；〃 he said。
〃I never did anything so bad before without telling； and I don't like
it at all。 It seems to come between him and me when I wish him good…
night。〃
〃Then； Harry； pray do tell him。 You'll have no comfort if you
don't。〃
〃I know I shan't； but then he'll be so angry！ And； do you know；
Margaret； 'twas worse than I told you； for a covey of partridges got
up； and unluckily I had got the gun； and I fired and killed one； and
that was regular poaching； you know！ And when we heard some one
coming； how we did cut！ Axthe other fellow； I mean； got it； and
cooked it in his bedroom； and ate it for supper； and he laughs about
it； but I have felt so horrid all the week！ Suppose a keeper had got
a summons！〃
〃I can only say again； the only peace will be in telling。〃
〃Yes； but he will be so angry。 When that lot of fellows a year or
two ago did something like it； and shot some of the Abbotstoke
rabbits； don't you remember how much he said about its being
disgraceful； and ordering us never to have anything to do with their
gunnery？ And he will think it so very bad to have gone out on a lark
just now！ Oh； I wish I hadn't done it。〃
〃So do I； indeed； Harry！ but I am sure； even it he should be angry at
first； he will he pleased with your confessing。〃
Harry looked very reluctant and disconsolate； and his sister did not
wonder for Dr。 May's way of hearing of a fault was never to be
calculated on。 〃Come； Harry；〃 said she； 〃if he is ever so angry；
though I don't think he will be； do you think that will be half as
bad as this load at your heart？ Besides； if you are not bold enough
to speak to him； do you think you can ever be brave enough for a
sailor？〃
〃I will；〃 said Harry； and the words were hardly spoken； before his
father's hand was on the door。 He was taken by surprise at the
moment of trial coming so speedily； and had half a mind to retreat by
the other door； he was stayed by the reflection that Margaret would
think him a coward； unfit for a sailor； and he made up his mind to
endure whatever might betide。
〃Harry here？ This is company I did not expect。〃
〃Harry has something to say to you； papa。〃
〃Eh！ my boy； what is it？〃 said he kindly。
〃Papa； I have killed a partridge。 Two fellows got me to hire a gun；
and go out shooting with them last Saturday；〃 said Harry； speaking
firmly and boldly now he had once begun。 〃We meant only to go after
pee…wits； but a partridge got up； and I killed it。〃
Then came a pause。 Harry stopped； and Dr。 May waited； half expecting
to hear that the boy was only brought to confession by finding
himself in a scrape。 Margaret spoke。 〃And he could not be happy
till he had told you。〃
〃Is it so？ Is that the whole？〃 said the doctor； looking at his son
with a keen glance； between affection and inquiry； as if only waiting
to be sure the confession was free； before he gave his free
forgiveness。
〃Yes； papa；〃 said Harry； his voice and lip losing their firmness； as
the sweetness of expression gained the day on his father's face。
〃Only that I know'twas very wrongespecially nowand I am very
sorryand I beg your pardon。〃
The latter words came between sighs； fast becoming sobs； in spite of
Harry's attempts to control them； as his father held out his arm； and
drew him close to him。
〃That's mamma's own brave boy；〃 he said in his earin a voice which
strong feeling had reduced to such a whisper； that even Margaret
could not hearshe only saw how Harry； sobbing aloud； clung tighter
and tighter to him； till he said 〃Take care of my arm！〃 and Harry
sprang back at least a yard； with such a look of dismay； that the
doctor laughed。 〃No harm done！〃 said he。 〃I was only a little in
dread of such a young lion！ Comeback； Harry；〃 and he took his hand。
〃It was a bad piece of work； and it will never do for you to let
yourself be drawn into every bit of mischief that is on foot； I
believe I ought to give you a good lecture on it； but I can't do it；
after such a straightforward confession。 You must have gone through
enough in the last week； not to be likely to do it again。〃
〃Yes； papathank you。〃
〃I suppose I must not ask you any questions about it； for fear of
betraying the fellows；〃 said Dr。 May； half smiling。
〃Thank you； papa；〃 said Harry； infinitely relieved and grateful； and
quite content for some space to lean in silence against the chair；
with that encircling arm round him； while some talk passed between
his father and Margaret。
What a world of thought passed through the boy's young soul in that
space！ First； there was a thrill of intense； burning love to his
father； scarcely less fondness to his sweet motherly sister； a
clinging feeling to every cha