do the same, mother."

"Do you, Anthony? Well, I cannot."

"I know. Where did I get my temper from, mother? Not from you, or my
father from all I have heard and remember of him."

"Your grandfather would say it was from the devil, Anthony."

"Yes, and perhaps he is right; only then it is rather hard luck on me,
isn't it? I can't help it--it comes."

"Then make it go, Anthony. You are to be confirmed soon. Change your
heart."

"I'll try. But, mother dear, though I am so bad to you, you are the only
one who will ever change me. When that wild-cat of a girl got the better
of me just now, it was you I thought of, not her. If I lost you I don't
know what would become of me."

"We have to stand or fall alone, Anthony."

"Perhaps, mother. I don't know; I am not old enough. Still, don't leave
me alone, for if you do, then I am sure which I shall do," and bending
down he kissed her and left the room.

After this scene Anthony's behaviour improved very much; his reports
from school were good, for he was quick and clever, and his great skill
in athletics made him a favourite. Also his grandfather, who prepared
him for confirmation, announced that the lad's nature seemed to have
softened.

So things remained for some time, to be accurate, for just so long as
the girl Bess was a servant at the Hall.

Anthony might talk about his mother's influence over him, and without
doubt when he was in his normal state this was considerable. Also it
served to prevent him from breaking out. But when he did break out, Bess
Catton alone could deal with him. Naturally it would be thought that
there was some mutual attraction between these young people. Yet this
was not so, at any rate on the part of the girl, who had been overheard
to tell Anthony to his face that she hated the sight of him and "would
cut him to ribbons" if she were his mother.

At any rate, there were others, or one other, of whom Bess did not hate
the sight, and in the end her behaviour caused such scandal that Barbara
was obliged to send her out of the house.

"All right, ma'am," she said, "I'll go, and be glad of a change. You may
ring your own bull-calf now and I wish you joy of the job, since there's
none but me that can lead him."

A few days later Anthony returned from school. With him came a letter
from the head master, who wrote that he did not wish to make any
scandal, and therefore had not expelled the boy. Still, he would be
obliged if his mother would