thony knew. He lay in wait for Nicky by the door that led from the
stable yard into the kitchen garden.

Nicky was in the strawberry bed.

"Was it you who took Roger out this afternoon?"

Nicky did not answer promptly. His mouth was still full of strawberries.

"What if I did?" he said at last, after manifest reflection.

"If you did? Why, you let him down on Golders Hill and cut his knees."

"Holly Mount," said Nicky.

"Holly Mount or Golders Hill, it's all the same to you, you young
monkey."

"It isn't, Daddy. Holly Mount's much the worst. It's an awful hill."

"That," said Anthony, "is why you're forbidden to ride down it. You've
_got_ to be spanked for this, Nicky."

"Have I? All right. Don't look so unhappy, Daddy."

Anthony did much better this time. Nicky (though he shook with laughter)
owned it very handsomely. And Anthony had handicapped himself again by
doing it through the cloth. He drew the line at shaming Nicky.
(Yet--_could_ you have shamed his indomitable impudence?)

But he had done it. He had done it ruthlessly, while the strawberries
were still wet on Nicky's mouth.

And when it was all over Michael, looking for his father, came into the
school-room where these things happened. He said he was awfully sorry,
but he'd taken Roger out, and Roger had gone down on his knees and
cut himself.

No, it wasn't on Holly Mount, it was at the turn of the road on the hill
past the "Spaniards."

Anthony paid no attention to Michael. He turned on Michael's brother.

"Nicky, what did you do it for?"

"For a rag, of course. I knew you'd feel such a jolly fool when you
found it wasn't me."

"You see, Daddy," he explained later, "you might have known I wouldn't
have let Roger down. But wasn't it a ripping sell?"

"What are you to do," said Anthony, "with a boy like that?"

Frances had an inspiration. "Do nothing," she said. Her tranquillity
refused to be troubled for long together.

"Nicky's right. It's no good trying to punish him. After all, _why_
punish Nicky? It isn't as if he was really naughty. He never does unkind
things, or mean things. And he's truthful."

"Horribly truthful. They all are," said Anthony.

"Well, then, what does Nicky do?"

"He does dangerous things."

"He forgets."

"Nothing more dangerous than forgetting. We must punish him to make him
remember."

"But it doesn't make him remember. It only makes him think us fools."

"You know what it means?" said Anthony. "We