de and
obstinacy."

"I wish I could," thought Don one moment. "It is as cruel as it is
unjust," he thought the next; and he felt more obstinately full of pride
than ever.

"Don, I command you to speak," said Mrs Lavington, whose manner now
began to change; but unfortunately the stern tone she adopted had the
wrong effect, and the wrinkles in the boy's face grew deeper, and the
position more strained.

If Uncle Josiah, who had never had boys of his own, had come down from
the lofty perch he had assumed, taken the boy's hand, and said in kindly
and frank tones, "Come, Don, my boy, there are troubles enough in life,
clouds sufficient to obscure too much sunshine; speak out, let's have
all this over, and clear the storm away,"--if he had said something like
that, Don would have melted, and all would have been well; but
accustomed to manage men with an iron rule, Uncle Josiah had somehow, in
spite of his straightforward, manly, and just character, seemed to repel
the boy whose charge he had taken, and instead now of making the
slightest advance, he said to himself, "It is not my duty to eat humble
pie before the obstinate young cub. It will be a severe lesson for him,
and will do him good."

So the breach widened. Don seemed to grow sulky and sullen, when he was
longing to cast himself upon his mother's neck. The poor woman felt
indignant at her son's conduct, and the last straw which broke the
camel's back was laid on the top of the load by Kitty, who, moved by a
desire to do good, made matters far worse by running across to Don, and
in an impetuous way catching his hands and kissing him.

"Don, dear!" she cried.

The boy's face lit up. Here was some one who would believe him after
all, and he responded to her advances by grasping her hands tightly in
his.

"Do, do speak, Don dear, and beg father to forgive you," she cried.
"Tell him it was a mistake, and that you will never do so again."

Don let fall her hands, the deep scowl came over his brow again, and he
half turned away.

"No, no, Don, dear," she whispered; "pray don't be obstinate. Confess
that you did it, and promise father to do better in the future. He will
forgive you; I know he will."

Don turned his back with an impatient gesture, and Kitty burst into
tears, and went slowly to her aunt, to whose hands she clung.

"Laura, dear," said Uncle Josiah, gravely, "I think we had better bring
this painful interview to an end. You may rest assured