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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 was younger？〃
〃The lion and the bear。〃
〃Ay； and minding his sheep。 Perhaps little things； now you are
little children； may be like the lion and the bearso kill them off…
…get rid of themcure yourself of whining or dawdling； or whatever
it be； and mind your sheep well；〃 said he； smiling sweetly in answer
to the children's earnest looks as they caught his meaning； 〃and if
you do； you will not find it near so hard to deal with your great
giant struggle when it comes。〃
Ah！ thought Ethel； it suits me as well as the children。 I have a
great giant on Cocksmoor； and here I am； not allowed to attack him；
because； perhaps； I am not minding my sheep； and letting my lion and
my bear run loose about the house。
She was less impatient this week； partly from the sense of being on
probation； and partly because she； in common with all the rest； was
much engrossed with Harry's fate。 He came home every day at dinner…
time with Norman to ask if Alan Ernescliffe's letter had come； and at
length Mary and Tom met them open…mouthed with the news that Margaret
had it in her room。
Thither they hastened。 Margaret held it out with a smile of
congratulation。 〃Here it is； Harry； papa said you were to have it；
and consider it well； and let him know； when you had taken time。
You must do it soberly。 It is once for all。〃
Harry's impetuosity was checked； and he took the letter quietly。
His sister put her hand on his shoulder； 〃Would you mind my kissing
you； dear Harry？〃 and as he threw his arms round her neck； she
whispered； 〃Pray that you may choose right。〃
He went quietly away； and Norman begged to know what had been Alan
Ernescliffe's advice。
〃I can scarcely say he gave any direct advice；〃 said Margaret； 〃He
would not have thought that called for。 He said； no doubt there were
hardships and temptations； more or less； according to circumstances；
but weighing one thing with another； he thought it gave as fair a
chance of happiness as other professions； and the discipline and
regularity had been very good for himself； as well as for many others
he had known。 He said； when a man is willing to go wrong there is
much to help him； but when he is resolved on doing right； he need not
be prevented。〃
〃That is what you may say of anything；〃 said Norman。
〃Just so； and it answered papa's question； whether it was exposing
Harry to more temptation than he must meet with anywhere。 That was
the reason it was such a comfort to have anyone to write to； who
understands it so well。〃
〃Yes； and knows Harry's nature。〃
〃He said he had been fortunate in his captains； and had led； on the
whole； a happy life at sea； and he thought if it was so with him；
Harry was likely to enjoy it more； being of a hardy adventurous
nature； and a sailor from choice； not from circumstances。〃
〃Then he advised for it？ I did not think he would； you know he will
not let Hector be a sailor。〃
〃He told me he thought only a strong natural bent that way made it
desirable； and that he believed Hector only wished it from imitation
of him。 He said too； long ago； that he thought Harry cut out for a
sailor。
〃A spirited fellow！〃 said Norman； with a look of saddened pride and
approval； not at all like one so near the same age。 〃He is up to
anything； afraid of nothing； he can lick any boy in the school
already。 It will be worse than ever without him！〃
〃Yes； you will miss your constant follower。 He has been your shadow
ever since he could walk。 But there's the clock； I must not keep you
any longer； good…bye； Norman。〃
Harry gave his brother the letter as soon as they were outside the
house； and； while he read it； took his arm and guided him。 〃Well；〃
said Norman as he finished。
〃It is all right；〃 said Harry； and the two brothers said no more；
there was something rising up in their throats at the thought that
they had very few more walks to take together to Bishop Whichcote's
school； Norman's heart was very full at the prospect of another
vacancy in his home； and Harry's was swelling between the ardour of
enterprise and the thought of bidding good…bye to each familiar
object； and； above all； to the brother who had been his model and
admiration from babyhood。
〃June！〃 at length he broke out； 〃I wish you were going too。 I should
not mind it half so much if you were。〃
〃Nonsense； Harry！ you want to be July after June all your life； do
you？ You'll be much more of a man without me。〃
That evening Dr。 May called Harry into his study to ask him if his
mind was made up； he put the subject fairly before him； and told him
not to be deterred from choosing what he thought would be for the
best by any scruples about changing his mind。 〃We shall not think a
bit the worse of you； better now； than too late。〃
There was that in his face and tone that caused Harry to say； in a
stifled voice； 〃I did not think you would care so much； papa； I won't
go； if you do。〃
Dr。 May put his hand on his shoulder； and was silent。 Harry felt a
strange mixture of hope and fear； joy and grief； disappointment and
relief。 〃You must not give it up on that account； my