you of

might get into a habit of remembering to wait to think, and to wait and do things, and that is half your fault; and when any one tells your carelessness, or reminds, you only call out'Oh, yes-oh, yes; there, that'll do, what a fuss you make about it; and you think every one too particular, and will not believe anything can happen. When papa warned you, you thought nothing about it. I remember months ago, how impatient you were when he first told you about that guard; and the last time, Dick, that miserable afternoon you thought he was very unkind because Edith hadn't been hurt. Did that alter your fault, Dick? You see he was right. What would he say now?' Henrietta paused and wiped her own eyes, as she added, laying her face side by side with his on the table, Dick, you remember what dear

mam

'Yes, yes, yes!' sobbed Richard, vehemently. 'I-I remember. I never forget what she said; but I don't think of it the right way, Hetty; and, as she said, I don't pray right, because I don't love God. I don't think I ever shall be any good to any one. I can't force myself to love God. I shall go away to sea, and then you will all be safe; for I am sure I shall be getting some one killed, or into disgrace by

my faults. I never have luck, like any other fellow.'

Henrietta laid an arm tenderly on his neck.

'Don't say that again, Dick. You don't know the troubles of other fellows as well as you know your own; and you ought not to talk of running away. Can you run away from yourself? You are the cause of all your own troubles. Don't be too proud to face yourself and fight yourself, instead of being angry and impatient. It is braver and more manly to stay at home and conquer, than to run away, and find new foes. You a Boothby, Richard, and say you cannot? You would not let another fellow say so.'

Richard made no answer, and his sister continued:

'You would like an easy life, with nothing to contradict you; but that cannot be found, as papa told you; and, as for us, should we be much happier in being always anxious about you, and ignorant of all that was happening to you? We all love you a little, Dick.'

Dick suddenly flung his arm round her, and Henrietta whispered a few words of advice, that seemed too sacred to be uttered aloud; and, by degrees, her brother told her all his school trouble, and Henrietta begged him earnestly

to make the necessary apology the next morning.

'You were wrong, you know, Dick; and think of dear papa, who is always thinking of us. We are all to him, Dick. What would he feel if you were expelled?'

'No; but it's very difficult, Henrietta, and that Finch is such a sneak-such a tyrant!'

'Well, the boys all know that, and they will know that you do for the Doctor what you might not for him; so that wont trouble you.'

'I shall do it for my own sake, if I do it, Hetty; for my father's and yours'And,' as Miss Somers says, 'for right's sake.''

'I don't know. I feel too angry to think about that,' replied Richard; but here's somebody come, and I haven't done anything yet. I must go and see Edith, little darling. He ran out of the room, as Miss Somers entered. Edith was fast asleep in her little bed by Pauline's. He gently turned the bed-clothes down, and looked, with tears in his eyes, at the arm, wrapped in cotton-wool. Then, kissing her very softly, he covered her up, and retreated on tiptoe to his own room.

THE

CHAPTER III.

HE next morning Richard set off to school, accompanied by his sister as far as the little copse near their house. There was something in his countenance that made Henrietta rather doubtful of his trustworthiness: but as he promised her that he would apologize to Mr. Finch all right,' she endeavoured to be satisfied, and returned home to her own work, after stealing a kiss from her wayward brother under cover of a stout hawthorn. The day wore on, and Henrietta, eager to hear how her brother had surmounted his troubles, was in the garden long before he could possibly arrive, to catch the first glimpse of him, and welcome him home as a victor; but the time passed-the time came-no Richard; and she began to be uneasy. The question, 'Where's Dick?' was passed round more than once, at first causing very little excitement, as Richard was not wont to be very punctual when the weather was fine; but at length the question began to assume a more serious aspect, and even the younger children

were grave, though the cook coolly assured them that 'Master Richard was only gone for a lark,' and would be back again before bedtime she had no doubt.

'But how does cook know anything about it?' asked Henrietta of Pauline, who had reported the cook's opinion.

'She has seen the schild dis very day. He just run by her ven she come to de larder,' replied Pauline; he have his bow, and run away tout de suite, just at de moment Miss Henriette

'Then he has been home?' said Henrietta. 'Did cook say how long ago?'

Pauline replied, in a hesitating tone, 'Cook croit-she believe it about one hour.'

'Oh, Pauline, you must have mistaken her,' exclaimed Henrietta; he could not leave school so soon. It is not a half-holiday to-day.'

I

'I do not meestake, Mademoiselle,' said Pauline. 'S'il vous plait demandez à cook. go to fetch her.'

'Pauline must have made a mistake,' said Henrietta, in rather an impatient manner, as the nurse went in search of the cook; 'he could not have been at home so early.'

Perhaps he has run away,' said Edith; 'he often says he will.'