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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 dear；〃 he said
at length； 〃I should not let you see this； if it did not happen at a
time when I can't command myself as I ought。 If you were an only
son； it might be your duty to stay； being one of many； 'tis nonsense
to make a rout about parting with you。 If it is better for you； it
is better for all of us； and we shall do very well when you are once
fairly gone。 Don't let that influence you for a moment。〃
Harry paused； not that he doubted； but he was collecting his
energies〃Then； papa； I choose the navy。〃
〃Then it is done； Harry。 You have chosen in a dutiful； unselfish
spirit； and I trust it will prosper with you； for I am sure your
father's blessingaye； and your mother's too； go with you！ Now
then；〃 after a pause； 〃go and call Richard。 I want him to write to
Ernescliffe about that naval school。 You must take your leave of the
Whichcote foundation on Friday。 I shall go and give Dr。 Hoxton
notice tomorrow； and get Tom's name down instead。〃
And when the name of Thomas May was set down； Dr。 Hoxton expressed
his trust that it would pass through the school as free from the
slightest blemish as those of Richard； Norman； and Harry May。
Now that Harry's destiny was fixed； Ethel began to think of Cocksmoor
again； and she accomplished another walk there with Richard； Flora；
and Mary； to question Granny Hall about the children's failure。
The old woman's reply was a tissue of contradictions： the girls were
idle hussies； all contrary： they plagued the very life out of her；
and she represented herself as using the most frightful threats； if
they would not go to school。 Breaking every bone in their skin was
the least injury she promised them； till Mary； beginning to think her
a cruel old woman； took hold of her brother's coat…tails for
protection。
〃But I am afraid； Mrs。 Hall；〃 said Richard； in that tone which might
be either ironical or simple； 〃if you served them so； they would
never be able to get to school at all； poor things。〃
〃Bless you； sir； d'ye think I'd ever l