按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the old rogue himself； for I promised to say nothing about former
practices； as long as he did not renew them。〃
〃Well！ I don't want to compromise you； Norman。 You know your own
ground best； but I don't like it at all。 You don't know the
humiliation of disgrace。 Those who have thought highly of you； now
thinking you changedI don't know how to bear it for you。〃
〃I don't mind anything while you trust me；〃 said Norman； eagerly；
〃not much I mean； except Mr。 Wilmot。 You must judge； papa； and do as
you please。〃
〃No； you must judge； Norman。 Your confidence in me ought not to be a
restraint。 It has always been an understood thing that what you say
at home is as if it had not been said； as regards my dealings with
the masters。〃
〃I know； papa。 Well； I'll tell you what brought me to this。 I
tumbled about all night in a rage； when I thought how they had served
me； and of Hoxton's believing it all； and how he might only half give
in to your representation； and then I gloried in Anderson's coming
down from his height； and being seen in his true colours。 So it went
on till morning came； and I got up。 You know you gave me my mother's
little 'Thomas a Kempis'。 I always read a bit every morning。 To…day
it was； 'Of four things that bring much inward peace'。 And what do
you think they were？
'Be desirous； my son； to do the will of another
rather than thine own。
Choose always to have less rather than more。
Seek always the lowest place； and to be inferior
to everyone。
Wish always and pray that the will of God may be
wholly fulfilled in thee。'
I liked them the more； because it was just like her last reading with
us； and like that letter。 Well； then I wondered as I lay on the
grass at Groveswood； whether she would have thought it best for me to
be reinstated； and I found out that I should have been rather afraid
of what you might say when she had talked it over with you。〃
Dr。 May smiled a little at the simplicity with which this last was
said； but his smile ended in one of his heavy sighs。 〃So you took
her for your counsellor； my boy。 That was the way to find out what
was right。〃
〃Well； there was something in the place and； in watching poor Lake's
windows； that made me not able to dwell so much on getting on； and
having prizes and scholarships。 I thought that caring for those had
been driven out of me； and you know I never felt as if it were my
right when I was made dux； but now I find it is all come back。 It
does not do for me to be first； I have been what she called elated；
and been more peremptory than need with the lower boys； and gone on
in my old way with Richard； and so I suppose this disgrace has come
to punish me。 I wish it were not disgrace； because of our name at
school； and because it will vex Harry so much； but since it is come；
considering all things； I suppose I ought not to struggle to justify
myself at other people's expense。〃
His eyes were so dazzled with tears that he could hardly see to
drive； nor did his father speak at first。 〃I can't say anything
against it； Norman； but I am sorry； and one thing more you should
consider。 If Dr。 Hoxton should view this absurd business in the way
he seems to do； it will stand in your way for ever in testimonials；
if you try for anything else。〃
〃Do you think it will interfere with my having a Confirmation
ticket？〃
〃Why no； I should not thinksuch a boyish escapade could be no
reason for refusing you one。〃
〃Very well then； it had better rest。 If there should be any
difficulty about my being confirmed； of course we will explain it。〃
〃I wish every one showed themselves as well prepared！〃 half muttered
the doctor； then； after long musing； 〃Well； Norman； I give up the
scholarship。 Poor Mrs。 Anderson wants it more than we do； and if the
boy is a shabby fellow the more he wants a decent education。 But
what do you say to this？ I make Hoxton do you full justice； and
reinstate you in your proper place； and then I take you away at once…
…send you to a tutoranything； till the end of the long vacation。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Norman； pausing。 〃I don't know； papa。 I am very
much obliged to you； but I think it would hardly do。 You would be
uncomfortable at seeming to quarrel with Dr。 Hoxton； and it would be
hardly creditable for me to go off in anger。〃
〃You are right； I believe；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃You judge wisely； though
I should not have ventured to ask it of you。 But what is to become
of the discipline of the school？ Is that all to go to the dogs？〃
〃I could not do anything with them if I were restored in this way；
they would be more set against me。 It is bad enough as it is； but；
even for my own peace； I believe it is better to leave it alone。 All
my comfort in school is over； I know！〃 and he sighed deeply。
〃It is a most untoward business！〃 said the doctor。 〃I am very sorry
your schooldays should be cloudedbut it can't be helped； and you
will work yourself into a character again。 You are full young； and
can stay for the next Randall。〃
Norman felt as if； while his father looked at him as he now did； the
rest of the world were nothing to him； but； perhaps； the driving past
the school brought him to a different mind； for he walked into the
house slowly and dejectedly。
He told his own story to Ethel； in the garden； not without much
difficulty； so indignant were her exclamations； and it was impossible
to make her see that his father's interference would put him in an
awkward position among the boys。 She would argue vehemently that she
could not bear Mr。 Wilmot to think ill of him； that it was a great
shame of Dr。 Hoxton； and that it was dreadful to let such a boy as
Harvey Anderson go unpunished。 〃I really do think it is quite wrong
of you to give up your chance of doing good； and leave him in his
evil ways！〃 That was all the comfort she gave Norman； and she walked
in to pour out a furious grumbling upon Margaret。
Dr。 May had been telling the elder ones； and they were in
conversation after he had left themMargaret talking with animation；
and Flora sitting over her drawing； uttering reluctant assents。 〃Has
he told you； poor fellow？〃 asked Margaret。
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel。 〃Was there ever such a shame？〃
〃That is just what I say；〃 observed Flora。 〃I cannot see why the
Andersons are to have a triumph over all of us。〃
〃I used to think Harvey the best of the two；〃 said Ethel。 〃Now I
think he is a great deal the worst。 Taking advantage of such a
mistake as this！ How will he ever look Norman in the face！〃
〃Really；〃 said Margaret； 〃I see no use in aggravating ourselves by
talking of the Andersons。〃
〃I can't think how papa can consent；〃 proceeded Flora。 〃I am sure；
if I were in his place； I should not！〃
〃Papa is so much pleased with dear Norman's behaviour that it quite
makes up for all the disappointment；〃 said Margaret。 〃Besides； he is
very much obliged to him in one way； he would not have liked to have
to battle the matter with Dr。 Hoxton。 He spoke of Norman's great
good judgment。〃
〃Yes； Norman can persuade papa to anything；〃 said Flora。
〃Yes； I wish papa had not yielded；〃 sai