e so far off, Paul: you'll come to see us in the
holidays, you know.'

'To be sure he will,' said Harold; 'or if he don't, I shall go and fetch
him.'

'Of course he will,' said Ellen, with her hand on Paul's chair, and
speaking low and affectionately to console him, as she saw him so
downcast; 'don't you know how poor Alfy says he's come to be instead of a
son to Mother, and a brother to us? I must go up and tell Alf and
mother. They'll be so pleased.'

Paul felt very differently about the plan now. All the house
congratulated him upon it, and Matilda evidently thought more of him now
that she found he was to have something to do. But such things as these
were out of sight beside that which was going on in the room above.

Alfred slept better that night, and woke so much revived, that they
thought him better: and Harold, greatly comforted about him, stood
tolerably quietly by his side, listening to one or two things that Alfred
had longed for months past to say to him.

'Promise me, Harold dear, that you'll be a good son to Mother: you'll be
the only one now.'

Harold made a bend of his head like a promise.

'O Harold, be good to her!' went on Alfred earnestly; 'she's had so much
trouble! I do hope God will leave you to her--if you are steady and
good. Do, Harold! She's not like some, as don't care what their lads
get to. And don't take after me, and be idle! Be right-down good,
Harold, as Paul is; and when you come to be ill--oh! it won't be so bad
for you as it was for me!'

'I do want to be good,' sighed Harold. 'If I'd only been confirmed; but
'twas all along of them merries last summer!'

'And I was such a plague to you--I drove you out,' said Alfred.

'No, no, I was a brute to you! Oh! Alfy, Alfy, if I could only get back
the time!'

He was getting to the sobs that hurt his brother; and his sister was
going to interfere; but Alfred said:

'Never mind, Harold dear, we've been very happy together, and we'll
always love each other. You'll not forget Alf, and you'll be Mother's
good son to take care of her! Won't you?'

So Harold gave that promise, and went away with his tears. Poor fellow,
now was his punishment for having slighted the Confirmation. Like Esau,
an exceeding bitter cry could not bring back what he had lightly thrown
away. Well was it for him that this great sorrow came in time, and that
it was not altogether his birthright that he had parted with. He found
he could not