meaning of those words, so as to make sure
they were only Ellen's nonsense, came over him in the silent darkness.
Presently he heard Alfred moving on his pillow, for the door was open for
the heat; and that long long sigh made him call in a whisper, 'Alf, are
you awake?'

In another moment Harold was by his brother's side. 'Alf! Alf! are you
worse?' he asked, whispering.

'No.'

'Then what's all this? What did they say? It's all stuff; I'm sure it
is, and you're getting better. But what did Ellen mean?'

'No, Harold,' said Alfred, getting his brother's hand in his, 'it's not
stuff; I shan't get well; I'm going after poor Charlie; and don't you be
a bad lad, Harold, and run away from your church, for you don't know--how
bad it feels to--' and Alfred turned his face down, for the tears were
coming thick.

'But you aren't going to die, Alf. Charlie never was like you, I know he
wasn't; he was always coughing. It is all Ellen. Who said it? I won't
let them.'

'The doctor said it to Betsey Hardman,' said Alfred; and his cough was
only too like his brother's.

Harold would have said a great deal in contempt of Betsey Hardman, but
Alfred did not let him.

'You'll wake Mother,' he said. 'Hush, Harold, don't go stamping about; I
can't bear it! No, I don't want any one to tell me now; I've been
getting worse ever since I was taken, and--oh! be quiet, Harold.'

'I can't be quiet,' sobbed Harold, coming nearer to him. 'O Alf! I
can't spare you! There hasn't been no proper downright fun without you,
and--'

Harold had lain down by him and clung to his hand, trying not to sob
aloud.

'O Harold!' sighed Alfred, 'I don't think I should mind--at least not so
much--if I hadn't been such a bad boy.'

'You, Alfy! Who was ever a good boy if you was not?'

'Hush! You forget all about when I was up at my Lady's, and all that.
Oh! and how bad I behaved at church, and when I was so saucy to Master
about the marbles; and so often I've not minded Mother. O Harold! and
God judges one for everything!'

What a sad terrified voice it was!

'Oh! don't go on so, Alf! I can't bear it! Why, we are but boys; and
those things were so long ago! God will not be hard on little boys. He
is merciful, don't you know?'

'But when I knew it was wrong, I did the worst I could!' said Alfred.
'Oh, if I could only begin all over again, now I do care! Only, Harold,
Harold, you are well; you can be good now when there's time.'