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〃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 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！〃