h the tears gathering in his eyes, though he tried hard to choke his
emotion down.

The doctor was very angry, and sadly disappointed; but he said no more,
only went on with his lunch.

"Eat your dinner," said Helen, after a time; and she leant over toward
the boy, and whispered the words kindly.

He gave her a quick, grateful look, but he could not speak.

"Come, sir, eat your dinner," said the doctor at last.

"Please, sir, I can't," the boy faltered.

"Why not?"

Dexter had to make another fight to keep down his tears before he could
say--

"Please, sir, I never could eat my breakfast when I knew I was going to
have the cane."

The doctor grunted, frowned, and went on eating, while the boy directed
a pitiful appealing look at Helen.

"Yes," she said at last, "what do you want?"

"May I go up to that place where I slept last night?"

Helen glanced at her father, who nodded shortly, and went on with his
dinner, while the required permission being given by Helen, the boy rose
hastily, and hurried out of the room.

Doctor Grayson was silent for a few minutes, and then he took a glass of
sherry.

"A young scoundrel!" he said. "It's not pleasant to have to say so, but
I've made a mistake."

"And are you going to give up your project, papa?" said Helen.

"_No_," he thundered. "Certainly not. It's very awkward, for that
bullet-headed drill-sergeant Hippetts will laugh at me, and say `I told
you so,' but I shall have to take the boy back."

Helen was silent.

"He told me I should," he continued; "but I would not believe him. The
young dog's face attracted me. He looked so frank and ingenuous. But
I'll soon pick out another. My theory is right, and if I have ten
thousand obstacles, I'll carry it out, and prove to the world that I
knew what I was at."

Helen went on slowly with her lunch, thinking deeply the while.

"Well?" said the doctor angrily, "why don't you speak? Are you
triumphing over my first downfall!"

Helen looked up at her father, and smiled reproachfully.

"I was thinking about Dexter," she said softly.

"A confounded ungrateful young dog! Taken him from that wretched place,
clothed him, offered him a home of which he might be proud, and he turns
upon me like that!"

"It was the act of a high-spirited, mischievous boy," said Helen
quietly.

"Mischievous! I should think it was. Confound him! But I'll have no
more of his tricks. Back he goes to the Union, and I'll have