l be pretty sure to get a
severe flogging. I deserve it, I know; but I don't want to take it. You
won't tell on me, will you? Perhaps he'll find it out through the loss of
the coat and hat, but I hope he won't miss them, at I have several
others."

"No, Max, I shall certainly not tell on you; no one shall ever learn from
me what you have told me in confidence; but I do hope, my dear boy, that
you will not try to deceive your kind, loving father, but will confess all
to him as soon as he comes home, and patiently bear whatever punishment he
sees fit to inflict. It is the only right and honorable course, Max, and
will save you a great deal of suffering from remorse and fear of
detection."

"But it will be dreadfully hard to confess!" sighed Max. "I believe I
really dread that more than the flogging."

"Yet take courage, my boy, and do it. Do not allow yourself to indulge in
moral cowardice, but dare to do right, asking help of God, who is able and
willing to give it."

Max made no reply, but sat there before her, looking very guilty and
miserable.

"You must be hungry," she said presently, "and it is not easy to be brave
and strong on an empty stomach. Suppose you go to your room and make
yourself neat, then come into the other house and join me and the little
folks in a nice luncheon."

The proposal was accepted with thankfulness.

Max looked several degrees less miserable after satisfying his appetite,
yet all the afternoon seemed restless and unhappy.

Elsie said little to him, but many times silently lifted up her heart on
his behalf, asking that he might have strength given him to do the duty he
felt to be so difficult and painful.

As the time drew near when the pleasure-seekers might be expected to
return, he slipped away out of her sight.

Presently the carriages drove up and deposited their load. Max stood
waiting in the veranda, his heart beating very fast and loud, as his
father, Violet, and Lulu came up the path that led from the garden-gate.

All three greeted him affectionately, expressing their regret that he had
missed the pleasure of the excursion; then Vi and Lulu passed into the
house and on upstairs.

The captain was about to follow when Max, stepping close to his side,
said, with a slight tremble in his voice, "Papa, I--want to speak to you."

"Very well, my son, say on," answered the captain, stopping and turning
toward him.

"It's something I want to tell you, sir," and Max hung hi