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up and confessed； he will begin afresh and do better。 Don't you
think so； Norman？ don't you； papa？〃
〃I should have more hope if I had seen anything like confession or
repentance；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃but that provoked me more than allI
could only perceive that he was sorry to be found out； and afraid of
punishment。〃
〃Perhaps； when he has recovered the first fright； he will come to his
better self；〃 said Margaret； for she guessed； what indeed was the
case； that the doctor's anger on this first shock of the discovery of
the fault he most abhorred had been so great； that a fearful cowering
spirit would be completely overwhelmed； and； as there had been no
sorrow shown for the fault； there had been none of that softening and
relenting that won so much love and confidence。
Every one felt that talking only made them more unhappy； they tried
to return to their occupations； and so passed the time till night。
Then； as Richard was carrying Margaret upstairs； Norman lingered to
say； 〃Papa； I am very sorry you should think I neglected Tom。 I dare
say I might have done better for him； but； indeed； I have tried。〃
〃I am sure you have； Norman。 I spoke hastily； my boyyou will not
think more of it。 When a thing like this comes on a man； he hardly
knows what he says。〃
〃If Harry were here；〃 said Norman； anxious to turn from the real loss
and grief； as well as to talk away that feeling of being apologised
to； 〃it would all do better。 He would make a link with Tom； but I
have so little； naturally； to do with the second form； that it is not
easy to keep him in sight。〃
〃Yes； yes； I know that very well。 It is no one's fault but my own； I
should not have sent him there without knowing him better。 But you
see how it is； NormanI have trusted to her； till I have grown
neglectful； and it is well if it is not the ruin of him！〃
〃Perhaps he will take a turn； as Ethel says；〃 answered Norman
cheerfully。 〃Good…night； papa。〃
〃I have a blessing to be thankful for in you； at least；〃 murmured the
doctor to himself。 〃What other young fellow of that age and spirit
would have borne so patiently with my injustice？ Not I； I am sure！ a
fine father I show myself to these poor childrenneglect；
helplessness； temperOh； Maggie！〃
Margaret had so bad a headache the next day that she could not come
downstairs。 The punishment was； they heard； a flogging at the time；
and an imposition so long； that it was likely to occupy a large
portion of the play…hours till the end of the half…year。 His father
said； and Norman silently agreed； 〃a very good thing； it will keep
him out of mischief；〃 but Margaret only wished she could learn it for
him； and took upon herself all the blame from beginning to end。 She
said little to her father； for it distressed him to see her grieved；
he desired her not to dwell on the subject； caressed her； called her
his comfort and support； and did all he could to console her； but it
was beyond his power； her sisters； by listening to her； only made her
worse。 〃Dear； dear papa；〃 she exclaimed； 〃how kind he is！ But he
can never depend upon me againI have been the ruin of my poor
little Tom。〃
〃Well；〃 said Richard quietly； 〃I can't see why you should put
yourself into such a state about it。〃
This took Margaret by surprise。 〃Have not I done very wrong； and
perhaps hurt Tom for life？〃
〃I hope not；〃 said Richard。 〃You and I made a mistake； but it does
not follow that Tom would have kept out of this scrape； if we had
told my father our notion。〃
〃It would not have been on my conscience；〃 said Margaret〃he would
not have sent him to school。〃
〃I don't know that；〃 said Richard。 〃At any rate we meant to do
right； and only made a mistake。 It was unfortunate； but I can't tell
why you go and make yourself ill； by fancying it worse than it is。
The boy has done very wrong； but people get cured of such things in
time； and it is nonsense to fret as if he were not a mere child of
eight years old。 You did not teach him deceit。〃
〃No； but I concealed itpapa is disappointed； when he thought he
could trust me。〃
〃Well！ I suppose no one could expect never to make mistakes；〃 said
Richard； in his sober tone。
〃Self…sufficiency！〃 exclaimed Margaret； 〃that has been the root of
all！ Do you know； Ritchie； I believe I was expecting that I could
always judge rightly。〃
〃You generally do；〃 said Richard； 〃no one else could do half what you
do。〃
〃So you have said； papa； and all of you； till you have spoilt me。 I
have thought it myself； Ritchie。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Richard。
〃But then；〃 said Margaret； 〃I have grown to think much of it； and not
like to be interfered with。 I thought I could manage by myself； and
when I said I would not worry papa； it was half because I liked the
doing and settling all about the children myself。 Oh！ if it could
have been visited in any way but by poor Tom's faults！〃
〃Well；〃 said Richard； 〃if you felt so； it was a pity； though I never
should have guessed it。 But you see you will never feel so again；
and as Tom is only one； and there are nine to govern； it is all for
the best。〃
His deliberate common…sense made her laugh a little； and she owned he
might be right。 〃It is a good lesson against my love of being first。
But indeed it is difficultpapa can so little bear to be harassed。〃
〃He could not at first； but now he is strong and well； it is
different。〃
〃He looks terribly thin and worn still；〃 sighed Margaret； 〃so much
older！〃
〃Ay； I think he will never get back his young looks； but except his
weak arm； he is quite well。〃
〃And then hishis quick way of speaking may do harm。〃
〃Yes； that was what I feared for Tom；〃 said Richard； 〃and there was
the mistake。 I see it now。 My father always is right in the main；
though he is apt to frighten one at first； and it is what ought to be
that he should rule his own house。 But now； Margaret； it is silly to
worry about it any morelet me fetch baby； and don't think of it。〃
And Margaret allowed his reasonableness； and let herself be
comforted。 After all； Richard's solid soberness had more influence
over her than anything else。
CHAPTER XX。
Think how simple things and lowly；
Have a part in Nature's plan；
How the great hath small beginnings；
And the child will be a man。
Little efforts work great actions；
Lessons in our childhood taught
Mould the spirit of that temper
Whereby blessed deeds are wrought。
Cherish； then； the gifts of childhood；
Use them gently； guard them well；
For their future growth and greatness
Who can measure； who can tell！
MORAL SONGS。
The first shock of Tom's misdemeanour passed away； though it still
gave many an anxious thought to such of the family as felt
responsible for him。
The girls were busily engaged in preparing an Easter feast for
Cocksmoor。 Mr。 Wilmot was to examine the scholars； and buns and tea
were provided； in addition to which Ethel designed to make a present
to every onea great task； considering that the Cocksmoor funds were
reserved for absolute necessaries； and were at a very low ebb。 So
that twenty…five gifts were to be composed out of nothing！
T