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！
Flora； fetch the sal volatile。〃
〃Let me tell you；〃 whispered Margaret。 〃Don't be angry with Harry。
It was〃
〃Not now； not now； my dear。 Lie quite still。〃 She obeyed； took the
sal volatile； and shut her eyes； while he sat leaning anxiously over；
watching her。 Presently she opened them； and； looking up； said
rather faintly； and trying to smile； 〃I don't think I can be better
till you have heard the rights of it。 He did not mean it。〃
〃Boys never do mean it；〃 was the doctor's answer。 〃I hoped better
things of Harry。〃
〃He had no intention〃 began Margaret； but she still was unfit to
talk； and her father silenced her； by promising to go and hear the
boy's own account。
In the hall； he was instantly beset by Ethel and Mary； the former
exclaiming； 〃Papa； you are quite mistaken！ It was very foolish of
Margaret to be so frightened。 He did nothing at all to frighten any
one。〃
Ethel's mode of pleading was unfortunate； the 〃very foolish of
Margaret〃 were the very words to displease。
〃Do not interfere！〃 said her father sternly。 〃You only encourage him
in his wanton mischief； and no one takes any heed how he torments my
poor Margaret。〃
〃Papa；〃 cried Harry； passionately bursting open the study door；
〃tormenting Margaret was the last thing I would do！〃
〃That is not the way to speak； Harry。 What have you been doing？〃
With rapid agitated utterance； Harry made his confession。 At another
time the doctor would have treated the matter as a joke carried too
far； but which； while it called for censure； was very amusing； but
now the explanation that the disguise had been assumed to impose on
the Andersons； only added to his displeasure。
〃You seem to think you have a licence to play off any impertinent
freaks you please； without consideration for any one；〃 he said； 〃but
I tell you it is not so。 As long as you are under my roof； you shall
feel my authority； and you shall spend the rest of the day in your
room。 I hope quietness there will bring you to a better mind； but I
am disappointed in you。 A boy who can choose such a time； and such
subjects； for insolent； unfeeling； practical jokes； cannot be in a
fit state for Confirmation。〃
〃Oh； papa！ papa！〃 cried the two girls； in tones of entreatywhile
Harry； with a burning face and hasty step； dashed upstairs without a
word。
〃You have been as bad！〃 said Dr。 May。 〃I say nothing to you； Mary；
you knew no better； but； to see you； Ethel； first encouraging him in
his impertinence； and terrifying Margaret so； that I dare say she may
be a week getting over it； and now defending him； and calling her
silly； is unbearable。 I cannot trust one of you！〃
〃Only listen； papa！〃
〃I will have no altercation； I must go back to Margaret； since no one
else has the slightest consideration for her。〃
An hour had passed away； when Richard knocked at Ethel's door to tell
her that tea was ready。
〃I have a great mind not to go down；〃 said Ethel； as he looked in；
and saw her seated with a book。
〃What do you mean？〃
〃I cannot bear to go down while poor Harry is so unjustly used。〃
〃Hush； Ethel！〃
〃I cannot hush。 Just because Margaret fancies robbers and murderers；
and all sorts of nonsense； as she always did； is poor Harry to be
accused of wantonly terrifying her； and shut up； and cut off from
Confirmation？ and just when he is going away； too！ It is unkind； and
unjust； and〃
〃Ethel； you will be sorry〃
〃Papa will be sorry；〃 continued Ethel； disregarding the caution。 〃It
is very unfair； that I will say so。 It was all nonsense of
Margaret's； but he will always make everything give way to her。 And
poor Harry just going to sea！ No； Ritchie； I cannot come down； I
cannot behave as usual。〃
〃You will grieve Margaret much more；〃 said Richard。
〃I can't help thatshe should not have made such a fuss。〃
Richard was somewhat in difficulties how to answer； but at that
moment Harry's door； which was next； was slightly opened； and his
voice said； 〃Go down； Ethel。 The captain may punish any one he
pleases； and it is mutiny in the rest of the crew to take his part。〃
〃Harry is in the right；〃 said Richard。 〃It is our duty not to
question our father's judgments。 It would be wrong of you to stay
up。〃
〃Wrong？〃 said Ethel。
〃Of course。 It would be against the articles of war；〃 said Harry；
opening his door another inch。 〃But； Ritchie； I say； do tell me
whether it has hurt Margaret。〃
〃She is better now；〃 said Richard； 〃but she has a headache； chiefly；
I believe； from distress at having brought this on you。 She is very
sorry for her fright。〃
〃I had not the least intention of frightening the most fearsome
little tender mouse on earth；〃 said Harry。
〃No； indeed！〃 said Ethel。
〃And at another time it would not have signified；〃 said Richard；
〃but； you know； Margaret always was timid； and now； the not being
able to move； and the being out of health； has made her nerves weak；
so that she cannot help it。〃
〃The fault was in our never heeding her when we were so eager to hear
Harry's story；〃 said Ethel。 〃That was what made the palpitation so
bad。 But； now papa knows all； does he not understand about Harry？〃
〃He was obliged to go out as soon as Margaret was better；〃 said
Richard； 〃and was scarcely come in when I came up。〃
〃Go down； Ethel；〃 repeated Harry。 〃Never mind me。 Norman told me
that sort of joke never answered； and I might have minded him。〃
The voice was very much troubled； and it brought back that burning
sensation of indignant tears to Ethel's eyes。
〃Oh； Harry！ you did not deserve to be so punished for it。〃
〃That is what you are not to say；〃 returned Harry。 〃I ought not to
have played the trick； andand just now toobut I always forget
things〃
The door shut； and they fancied they heard sobs。 Ethel groaned； but
made no opposition to following her brother down to tea。 Margaret
lay； wan and exhausted； on the sofathe doctor looked very
melancholy and rather stern； and the others were silent。 Ethel had
begun to hope for the warm reaction she had so often known after a
hasty fit； but it did not readily come； Harry was boy instead of
girlthe fault and its consequence had been more seriousand the
anxiety for the future was greater。 Besides； he had not fully heard
the story； Harry； in his incoherent narration； had not excused
himself； and Margaret's panic had appeared more as if inspired by
him； than； as it was； in fact； the work of her fancy。
Thus the evening passed gloomily away； and it was not till the others
had said good…night that Dr。 May began to talk over the affair with
his eldest son； who then was able to lay before him the facts of the
case； as gathered from his sisters。 He listened with a manner as
though it were a reproof； and then said sadly； 〃I am afraid I was in
a passion。〃
〃It was very wrong in Harry；〃 said Richard； 〃and particularly unlucky
it should happen with the Andersons。〃
〃Very thoughtless；〃 said the doctor； 〃no more； even as regarded
Margaret； but thoughtlessness should not have been treated as a
crime。〃
〃I wish we could see him otherwise；〃 said Richard。
〃He wants〃 and there Dr。 May stopped short； and； taking up his
cand