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father； scarcely less fondness to his sweet motherly sister； a
clinging feeling to every chair and table of that room； which seemed
still full of his mother's presence； a numbering over of all the
others with ardent attachment； and a flinging from him with horror
the notion of asking to be far away from that dearest father； that
loving home； that arm that was round him。 Anything rather than be
without them in the dreary world！ But then came the remembrance of
cherished visions； the shame of relinquishing a settled purpose； the
thought of weary morrows； with the tempters among his playmates； and
his home blank and melancholy； and the roaming spirit of enterprise
stirred again； and reproached him with being a baby； for fancying he
could stay at home for ever。 He would come back again with such
honours as Allan Ernescliffe had brought； and oh！ if his father so
prized them in a stranger； what would it be in his own son？ Come
home to such a greeting as would make up for the parting！ Harry's
heart throbbed again for the boundless sea； the tall ship； and the
wondrous foreign climes； where he had so often lived in fancy。
Should he； could he speak： was this the moment？ and he stood gazing
at the fire； oppressed with the weighty reality of deciding his
destiny。 At last Dr。 May looked in his face； 〃Well； what now； boy？
You have your head full of somethingwhat's coming next？〃
Out it came； 〃Papa will you let me be a sailor？〃
〃Oh！〃 said Dr。 May； 〃that is come on again； is it？ I thought that
you had forgotten all that。〃
〃No； papa；〃 said Harry； with the manly coolness that the sense of his
determination gave him〃it was not a mere fancy； and I have never
had it out of my head。 I mean it quite in earnestI had rather be a
sailor。 I don't wish to get away from Latin and Greek； I don't mind
them； but I think I could be a better sailor than anything。 I know
it is not all play； but I am willing to rough it； and I am getting so
old； it is time to see about it； so will you consent to it； papa？〃
〃Well！ there's some sense in your way of putting it；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃You have it strong in your head then； and you know 'tis not all
fair…weather work！〃
〃That I do； Alan told me histories； and I've read all about it； but
one must rough it anywhere； and if I am ever so far away； I'll try
not to forget what's right。 I'll do my duty； and not care for
danger。〃
〃Well said； my man； but remember 'tis easier talking by one's own
fireside than doing when the trial comes。〃
〃And will you let me； papa？〃
〃I'll think about it。 I can't make up my mind as 'quick as
directly；' you know； Harry；〃 said his father； smiling kindly； 〃but I
won't treat it as a boy's fancy； for you've spoken in a manly way；
and deserve to be attended to。 Now run down； and tell the girls to
put away their work； for I shall come down in a minute to read
prayers。〃
Harry went； and his father sighed and mused！ 〃That's a fine fellow！
So this is what comes of bringing sick sailors homeone's own boys
must be catching the infection。 Little monkey； he talks as wisely as
if he were forty！ He is really set on it； do you think； Margaret？
I'm afraid so！〃
〃I think so；〃 said Margaret； 〃I don't think he ever has it out of his
mind！〃
〃And when the roving spirit once lays hold of a lad； he must have his
wayhe is good for nothing else；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃I suppose a man may keep from evil in that profession as well as in
any other；〃 said Margaret。
〃Aha！ you are bit too； are you？〃 said the doctor； 〃'tis the
husbandman and viper； is it？〃 Then his smile turned into a heavy
sigh； as he saw he had brought colour to Margaret's pale cheek； but
she answered calmly； 〃Dear mamma did not think it would be a bad
thing for him。〃
〃I know；〃 said the doctor； pausing； 〃but it never came to this with
her。〃
〃I wish he had chosen something else； but〃 and Margaret thought it
right to lay before her father some part of what he had said of the
temptations of the school at Stoneborough。 The doctor listened and
considered at last he rose； and said； 〃Well； I'll set Ritchie to
write to Ernescliffe； and hear what he says。 What must be； must be。
'Tis only asking me to give up the boy； that's all；〃 and as he left
the room； his daughter again heard his sigh and half…uttered words；
〃Oh； Maggie； Maggie！
CHAPTER X。
A tale
Would rouse adventurous courage in a boy；
And make him long to be a mariner；
That he might rove the main。SOUTHEY。
Etheldred had the satisfaction of seeing the Taylors at school on
Sunday； but no Halls made their appearance； and； on inquiry； she was
told； 〃Please ma'am； they said they would not come；〃 so Ethel
condemned Granny Hall as 〃a horrid； vile； false； hypocritical old
creature！ It was no use having anything more to do with her。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Richard； 〃then I need not speak to my father。〃
〃Ritchie now！ you know I meant no such thing！〃
〃You know； it is just what will happen continually。〃
〃Of course there will be failures； but this is so abominable； when
they had those nice frocks； and those two beautiful eighteen…penny
shawls！ There are three shillings out of my pound thrown away！〃
〃Perhaps there was some reason to prevent them。 We will go and see。〃
〃We shall only hear some more palavering。 I want to have no more to
say to〃 but here Ethel caught herself up； and began to perceive
what a happiness it was that she had not the power of acting on her
own impulses。
The twins and their little brother of two years old were christened
in the afternoon； and Flora invited the parents to drink tea in the
kitchen； and visit Lucy； while Ethel and Mary each carried a baby
upstairs to exhibit to Margaret。
Richard； in the meantime； had a conversation with John Taylor； and
learned a good deal about the district； and the number of the people。
At tea； he began to rehearse his information； and the doctor listened
with interest； which put Ethel in happy agitation； believing that the
moment was come； and Richard seemed to be only waiting for the
conclusion of a long tirade against those who ought to do something
for the place； when behold！ Blanche was climbing on her father's
knee； begging for one of his Sunday stories。
Etheldred was cruelly disappointed； and could not at first rejoice to
see her father able again to occupy himself with his little girl。
The narration； in his low tones； roused her from her mood of
vexation。 It was the story of David； which he told in language
scriptural and poetical； so pretty and tender in its simplicity； that
she could not choose but attend。 Ever and anon there was a glance
towards Harry； as if he were secretly likening his own 〃yellow…haired
laddie〃 to the 〃shepherd boy； ruddy； and of a fair countenance。〃
〃So Tom and Blanche；〃 he concluded； 〃can you tell me how we may be
like the shepherd…boy； David？〃
〃There aren't giants now；〃 said Tom。
〃Wrong is a giant；〃 said his little sister。
〃Right； my white May…flower； and what then？〃
〃We are to fight；〃 said Tom。
〃Yes； and mind； the giant with all his armour may be some great thing
we have to do： but what did David begin with when he