d I've desired to be a soldier of Christ. If there be
no opening prepared for me as yet, it must be that I am not fit for the
work. In God's own good time He will point the way. I am content to
wait that time, mother; and,' added the young man softly under his
breath, 'if it be that the opening never come in this life, well, we
know that all things are possible to Him, without any feeble help from
us weak mortals.'

'Dear boy,' sighed the widow, 'your patience shames my discontent.
But, you see, it tries a mother's heart sorely to see her child
stranded high and dry, while others, not half so fit, rush in and win
the prizes of life.'

'Bide a wee, mater, bide a wee! Everything comes to the man who can
wait, as the old proverb says. But I must confess I am at the end of
my patience with those young scamps, the Carnegy boys.'

'Speak to their father, Philip. Rouse him up to rule in his own
house,' said Mrs. Price energetically.

'I really think I must,' assented Philip; and he did.

CHAPTER VI

THE LITTLE MOTHER

The next day the harassed tutor bearded the lion in his den.

'I really must have a few words with you, captain!' he began nervously
enough.

'What on earth's the matter, Price? What's wrong now?' testily
demanded the captain, grievously annoyed at being disturbed over his
ponderous literary labours.

'It's the old story,' said Philip dejectedly. 'The fact is, the boys
are getting beyond me, Alick especially so.'

'Well,' said the captain, fidgeting impatiently with his pen as he sat
surrounded by waves of MSS., 'thrash them, can't you?'

'I'd rather try any other means than that!' was the quietly spoken
answer.

'Hasn't the pluck in him for it!' was the thought that passed through
the fiery old sailor's mind. But if he had noted the calm smile of a
self-controlled nature that flitted across the face of the young man
standing opposite him, the captain would have rapidly changed his
opinion as to the lack of pluck in Philip Price.

'Oh, well, what do you want me to do, eh? You really can't expect me
to come into the schoolroom and horsewhip the young scamps for you!
You see for yourself how my time is occupied on a most important
subject.' The captain waved his pen over the closely-written sheets
before him.

'Perhaps not. But I really must ask you to reason with Alick, if not
to punish him. It is imperative that something of the sort must be
done. It comes to this, captain