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！
were but a boy to flog that Edward！〃
〃Hush； Ethel； remember what we resolved。〃
They were entering their own garden； where； beneath the shade of the
tulip…tree； Margaret lay on her couch。 Her arms were held out； and
Harry threw himself upon her； but when he rose from her caress；
Norman and Tom were gone。
〃What is this？〃 he now first ventured to ask。
〃Come with me；〃 said Dr。 May； leading the way to his study； where he
related the whole history of the suspicion that Norman had incurred。
He was glad that he had done so in private； for Harry's indignation
and grief went beyond his expectations； and when at last it appeared
that Harvey Anderson was actually Randall…scholar； after opening his
eyes with the utmost incredulity； and causing it to be a second time
repeated； he gave a gulp or two； turned very red； and ended by laying
his head on the table； and fairly sobbing and crying aloud； in spite
of dirk； uniform； and manhood。
〃Harry！ why； Harry； my boy！ We should have prepared you for this；〃
said the doctor affectionately。 〃We have left off breaking our
hearts about it。 I don't want any comfort now for having gold
instead of glitter； though at first I was as bad as you。〃
〃Oh； if I had but been there！〃 said Harry； combating unsuccessfully
with his tears。
〃Ah！ so we all said； Norman and all。 Your word would have cleared
himthat is； if you had not been in the thick of the mischief。 Ha！
July； should not you have been on the top of the wall？〃
〃I would have stood by him； at least。 Would not I have given
Axworthy and Anderson two such black eyes as they could not have
shown in school for a week？ They had better look out！〃 cried Harry
savagely。
〃What！ An officer in her Majesty's service！ Eh； Mr。 May？〃
〃Don't； papa； don't。 Oh！ I thought it would have been so happy；
when I came home； to see Norman Randall…scholar。 Oh！ now I don't
care for the ship； nor anything。〃 Again Harry's face went down on
the table。
〃Come； come； Harry；〃 said Dr。 May； pulling off the spectacles that
had become very dewy； 〃don't let us make fools of ourselves； or they
will think we are dying for the scholarship。〃
〃I don't care for the scholarship； but to have June turned downand
disgrace〃
〃What I care for； Harry； is having June what he is； and that I know
better now。〃
〃He is！ he ishe is June himself； and no mistake！〃 cried Harry； with
vehemence。
〃The prime of the year； is not it？〃 said the doctor； smiling； as he
stroked down the blue sleeve； as if he thought that generous July did
not fall far short of it。
〃That he is！〃 exclaimed Harry。 〃I have never met one fellow like
him。〃
〃It will be a chance if you ever do；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃That is better
than scholarships！〃
〃It should have been both；〃 said Harry。
〃Norman thinks the disappointment has been very good for him；〃 said
the doctor。
〃Perhaps it made him what he is now。 All success is no discipline；
you know。〃
Harry looked as if he did not know。
〃Perhaps you will understand better by…and…by； but this I can tell
you； Harry； that the patient bearing of his vexation has done more to
renew Norman's spirits than all his prosperity。 See if if has not。
I believe it is harder to every one of us； than to him。 To Ethel；
especially； it is a struggle to be in charity with the Andersons。〃
〃In charity！〃 repeated Harry。 〃Papa！ you don't want us to like a
horrid； sneaking； mean…spirited pair like those； that have used
Norman in that shameful way？〃
〃No； certainly not； I only want you to feel no more personal anger
than if it had been Cheviot； or some indifferent person； that had
been injured。〃
〃I should have hated them all the same！〃 cried Harry。
〃If it is all the same； and it is the treachery you hate； I ask no
more；〃 said the doctor。
〃I can't help it； papa； I can't！ If I were to meet those fellows； do
you think I could shake hands with them？ If I did not lick Ned all
down Minster Street； he might think himself lucky。〃
〃Well； Harry； I won't argue any more。 I have no right to preach
forbearance。 Your brother's example is better worth than my
precept。 Shall we go back to Margaret； or have you anything to say
to me？〃
Harry made no positive answer； but pressed close to his father； who
put his arm round him； while the curly head was laid on his shoulder。
Presently he said； with a great sigh； 〃There's nothing like home。〃
〃Was that what you wanted to say？〃 asked Dr。 May； smiling； as he held
the boy more closely to him。
〃No； but it will be a long time before I come back。 They think we
shall have orders for the Pacific。〃
〃You will come home our real lion；〃 said the doctor。 〃How much you
will have to tell！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Harry； 〃but oh！ it is very different from coming home
every night； not having any one to tell a thing to。〃
〃Do you want to say anything now？〃
〃I don't know。 I told you in my letter about the half…sovereign。〃
〃Ay； never mind that。〃
〃And there was one night； I am afraid； I did not stand by a little
fellow that they bullied about his prayers。 Perhaps he would have
gone on； if I had helped him！〃
〃Does he sail with you？〃
〃No； he was at school。 If I had told him that he and I would stand
by each otherbut he looked so foolish； and began to cry！ I am
sorry now。〃
〃Weak spirits have much to bear；〃 said the doctor； 〃and you stronger
ones； who don't mind being bullied； are meant； I suppose； to help
them； as Norman has been doing by poor little Tommy。〃
〃It was thinking of Normanthat made me sorry。 I knew there was
something else； but you see I forget when I don't see you and
Margaret every day。〃
〃You have One always near； my boy。〃
〃I know； but I cannot always recollect。 And there is such a row at
night on board； I cannot think or attend as I ought；〃 murmured Harry。
〃Yes； your life； sleeping at home in quiet； has not prepared you for
that trial；〃 said the doctor。 〃But others have kept upright habits
under the same； you knowand God helps those who are doing their
best。〃
Harry sighed。
〃I mean to do my best；〃 he added； 〃and if it was not for feeling bad；
I should like it。 I do like it〃and his eye sparkled； and his smile
beamed； though the tear was undried。
〃I know you do！〃 said Dr。 May； smiling； 〃and for feeling bad； my
Harry； I fear you must do that by sea； or land； as long as you are in
this world。 God be thanked that you grieve over the feeling。 But He
is ready to aid； and knows the trial； and you will be brought nearer
to Him before you leave us。〃
〃Margaret wrote about the Confirmation。 Am I old enough？〃
〃If you wish it； Harry； under these circumstances。〃
〃I suppose I do；〃 said Harry； uneasily twirling a button。
〃But then； if I've got to forgive the Andersons〃
〃We won't talk any more of that；〃 said the doctor； 〃here is poor
Mary； reconnoitring； to know why I am keeping you from her。〃
Then began the scampering up and down the house； round and round the
garden； visiting every pet or haunt or contrivance； Mary and Harry at
the head； Blanche and Tom in full career after them； and Aubrey
stumping and scrambling at his utmost speed； far behind。
Not a word passed between Norman and Harry on the school
misadventure； but； after the outbreak of the latter； he treated it as
a thing forgotten； and brought all his high spirits to enliven the
family party。 Richard； too； returned later on the same day； and
though not received with the same uproarious joy as Harry； the elder
section of the family were as happy in their way as what Blanche
called the middle…aged。 The Daisy was brought down； and the eleven
were again all in the same room； though there were suppressed sighs
from some； who reflected how long it might be before they could again
assemble。
Tea went off happily in the garden； with much laughing and talking。
〃Pity to leave such good company！〃 said the doctor； unwillingly
rising at last〃but I must go to the UnionI promised Ward to meet
him there。〃
〃Oh； let me walk with you！〃 cried Harry。
〃And me！〃 cried other voices； and the doctor proposed that they
should wait for him in the meads； and extend the walk after the
visit。 Richard and Ethel both expressing their intention of adhering
to Margaretthe latter observing how nice it would be to get rid of
everybody； and have a talk。
〃What have we been doing all this time？〃 said Dr。 May； laughing。
〃Chattering； not conversing；〃 said Ethel saucily。
〃Ay！ the Cocksmoor board is going to sit；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃What is a board？〃 inquired Blanche； who had just come down prepared
for her walk。
〃Richard； Margaret； and Ethel； when they sit upon Cocksmoor；〃 said
Dr。 May。
〃But Margaret never does sit on Cocksmoor； papa。〃
〃Only allegorically； Blanche；〃 said Norman。
〃But I don't understand what is a board？〃 pursued Blanche。
〃Mr。 May in his ship；〃 was Norman's suggestion。
Poor Blanche stood in perplexity。 〃What is it really？〃
〃Something wooden headed；〃 continued the provoking papa。
〃A board is all wooden； not only its head；〃 said Blanche。
〃Exactly so； especially at Stoneborough！〃 said the doctor。
〃It is what papa is when he comes out of the council…room；〃 added
Ethel。
〃Or what every one is while the