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not see that he was wrong； but Miss Fosbrook and Sam both looked so much grieved for him； that a start of fright went through him。
Some minds really do not understand a fault till they see it severely visited； and 〃at least〃 and 〃couldn't help〃 had so blinded Henry's eyes that he had thought himself more unlucky than to blame； till his father's manner forced it on him that he had done something dreadful。 Vaguely afraid； he hung about； looking so wretched that he was a piteous sight； and it cut his father to the heart to spend such a last day together。 Mayhap the Captain could hardly have held out all that second day； if he had not passed his word to his brother。
The travellers were to set off at six in the morning； to meet the earliest train： and it was not till nine o'clock at night； when the four elder ones said good…night； that the Captain； following them out of the room； laid his hand on Henry as the others went up…stairs； and said； 〃Henry； have you nothing to say to me？〃
Henry leant against the baluster and sobbed； not knowing what else to do。
〃You can't be more grieved than I am to have such a last day together；〃 said his father； laying his hand on the yellow head； 〃but I can't help it； you see。 If you will do such things； it is my duty to make you repent of them。〃
Hal threw himself almost double over the rail； and something was heard about 〃sorry；〃 and 〃never。〃
〃Poor little lad！〃 said his father aloud to himself； 〃he is cut up enough now； but how am I to know if his sorrow is good for anything？〃
〃O Papa！ I'll never do such a thing again！〃
〃I wish I knew that； Hal；〃 said the Captain； sitting down on the stairs； and taking him between his knees。 〃There； let us talk it over together。 I don't suppose you expected to steal and deceive when you got up in the morning。〃
〃Oh no； no！〃
〃Go back to the beginning。 See how you came to this。〃
As he waited for an answer； Hal mumbled out after some time； 〃You said we need not go to church on a week…day。〃
〃Well； what of that？〃
〃I didn't go in case the telegraph should come。〃
〃There are different ways of thinking；〃 said his father。 〃Church was the only place where I COULD have gone that St。 Barnabas' Day。〃
〃I would have gone；〃 said the self…contradictory Henry； 〃only the Grevilles are always at one for being like a girl。〃
〃Ha！ now we see daylight！〃 said the Captain。
〃'The Grevilles are at one；'that's more like getting to the bottom of it。〃
〃Yes； Papa；〃 said Hal； glad to make himself out a victim to circumstance； 〃you can't think what a pair of fellows those are for not letting one alone； Purday says they haven't as much conscience between them as a pigeon's egg has meat； and going down to Mr。 Carey's with them every day； they let one have no peace。〃
〃You will find people everywhere who will let you have no peace； unless you do not care for them； though you will not be left to the Grevilles any longer。〃
〃Yes； Papa； when I am away from them； you will see〃
〃No； Hal； I shall not see； I shall hear。〃
〃Shall not I sail with you； then； Papa？〃
〃You will not sail at all： I thought you knew that。〃
〃I thought the Admiral must have given you two appointments；〃 said Hal timidly。
〃He gave me ONE； for one of my sons。 The first choice is Sam's right； even if he had not deserved it by his brave patient obedience。〃
Hal hung his head； then said； 〃But； Papa； if Sam broke down in his examination； please mightn't I〃
〃No； Henry。 Not only does your uncle say that though Sam's success is very doubtful； your inaccuracy would make your failure certain； but if your knowledge were ever so well up to the mark； I could not put you into the navy。 Left to yourself here； you have been insubordinate； vain； weak； shuffling： can I let you go into greater temptation； where disgrace would be public and without remedy？〃
〃Oh； but； Papa！ Papa！ Away from the Grevilles； and not under only a governess〃
〃You shall be away from the Grevilles； and not under a governess。 Your uncle is kind enough to take you with him to his house； and will endeavour to make you fit to try to get upon the foundation by the time there is a vacancy。〃
〃O Papa！ don't；〃 sobbed Henry。
〃I can't help it； Hal！ You have shown yourself unfit either for the sea or for home。 What can I do with you？〃
〃Try meonly try me； Papa。 I would〃
〃I cannot go by what you say you would be； but what you are。 Deeds； not words。〃
〃But if you won't let me go into the navy； only let me be in real school。〃
〃No； Henry； I have not the means of sending you there： excepting on the foundation； and if you get admittance there at all； it will only be by great diligence； and your uncle's kindness in preparing you。〃
Henry cried bitterly。 It was a dreadful prospect to do his lessons alone with Uncle John in the boys' play…hours； and be kept in order by Aunt Alice when his uncle was in school。 Perhaps his father would not have liked it himself； for his voice was very pitying； though cheering； as he said； 〃One half year； Hal； very likely no more if you take pains； and you'll get into school； and be very happy； so long as you don't make a Greville of every idle chap you meet。〃
Henry cried as though beyond consolation。
〃I hate leaving you this way；〃 continued his father； 〃but by the time I come home you will see it was the best thing for you； and look up to Uncle John as your best friend。 Why； Hal； boy； you'll be a tall fellow of fourteen！ Let me find you godly and manly： you can't be one without the other。 There now； good night； God bless you。〃
More might have been said to Henry on his fault and what had led to it； but what his father did say was likely to sink deeper as he grew older； and had more sense and feeling。
From him Captain Merrifield went to the school…room； where Miss Fosbrook was packing up for the little girls； and putting last stitches to their equipments； with hearty good…will and kindness； as if she had been their elder sister。
He thanked her most warmly； and without sending away the girls； who were both busy tacking in little white tuckers to the evening frocks； he began to settle about the terms on which she was to remain at Stokesley。 He said that he could not possibly have left his wife without a person on whose friendly help and good management of the children he could depend。 Important as it was to him to be employed； he must have refused the appointment if Miss Fosbrook had been discontented； or had not had the children so well in hand。 He explained that he had reason to think that Mrs。 Merrifield's present illness had been the effect of all she had gone through while he was in the Black Sea during the Crimean War。 She had been a very strong person； and had never thought of sparing herself； but she and all her little children had had to get into Stokesley in his absence； she had to manage the estate and farm； teach the elder children； and take care of the babies； with no help but Nurse Freeman's： and though he had been wounded when with the Naval Brigade； and had been at death's door with cholera； the effects had done him no lasting harm at all； while the over…strain of the anxiety and exertion that she had undergone all alone ha