will was entirely unrestrained, he had no
notion of minding any of us, still less of learning. Trevor Lea could
read, write, talk French, say a few Latin declensions, when Alured
could not read a word of three letters, and would not try to learn.

Oh! the antics he played when I tried to teach him! Then Fulk tried,
and he was tame for three days, but then came idleness, wilfulness,
anger, punishment, but he laughed to scorn all that we could find in
our hearts to do to him.

As to getting other help we were ashamed till he should be a little
less shamefully backward. The Cradocks offered to teach him, but then,
unless he was elaborately put on honour, he played truant.

He had plenty of honour, plenty of affection, but not the smallest
conscience as to obedience; and Fulk would not have the other two
motives worked too hard, saying the one might break, the other give way.

We had not taught obedience, so we had to take the consequences, and we
were the less able to enforce it that he had come to a knowledge of our
mutual relations much sooner than we intended, and in the worst manner
possible.

Of course he knew himself to be Lord Trevorsham, and owner of the
property; but one day, when Fulk found him galloping his pony in the
field laid up for hay, and ordered him out, he retorted that "You ain't
my proper brother, and you haven't any rights over me! It is my field;
and I shall do as I like."

Fulk got hold of the pony's bridle, and took Alured by the shoulder
without one word, then took him into the little study, and had it out
with him.

It was Hester who had told him. He had been at Spinney Lawn with
Trevor all one afternoon, when we had thought him out with old Sisson.
He had told no falsehood indeed, but Hester and her husband had made
him understand, so far as such a child could do, that there was some
disgrace connected with us; that Fulk had once been in his place, and
only wanted to get it back, and now had it all his own way with his
young lordship's property, and that he owed us neither duty nor
affection, only to his true relative, Lady Hester Perrault.

The dear boy had maintained stoutly that he did love Ursula and
Jacquey, and that Hester wasn't half so nice, and that he had rather
they bullied him than that she coaxed him! But there was the poison
sown--to rankle and grow and burst out when he was opposed. He had
full faith and trust in Fulk, and accepted his history, owning, indeed,
f