w I shan't; but then he'll be so angry! And, do you know,
Margaret, 'twas worse than I told you, for a covey of partridges got up,
and unluckily I had got the gun, and I fired and killed one, and that
was regular poaching, you know! And when we heard some one coming, how
we did cut! Ax--the other fellow, I mean, got it, and cooked it in his
bedroom, and ate it for supper; and he laughs about it, but I have felt
so horrid all the week! Suppose a keeper had got a summons!"

"I can only say again, the only peace will be in telling."

"Yes; but he will be so angry. When that lot of fellows a year or two
ago did something like it, and shot some of the Abbotstoke rabbits,
don't you remember how much he said about its being disgraceful, and
ordering us never to have anything to do with their gunnery? And he will
think it so very bad to have gone out on a lark just now! Oh, I wish I
hadn't done it."

"So do I, indeed, Harry! but I am sure, even it he should be angry at
first, he will be pleased with your confessing."

Harry looked very reluctant and disconsolate, and his sister did
not wonder for Dr. May's way of hearing of a fault was never to be
calculated on. "Come, Harry," said she, "if he is ever so angry, though
I don't think he will be, do you think that will be half as bad as this
load at your heart? Besides, if you are not bold enough to speak to him,
do you think you can ever be brave enough for a sailor?"

"I will," said Harry, and the words were hardly spoken, before his
father's hand was on the door. He was taken by surprise at the moment
of trial coming so speedily, and had half a mind to retreat by the other
door; he was stayed by the reflection that Margaret would think him a
coward, unfit for a sailor, and he made up his mind to endure whatever
might betide.

"Harry here? This is company I did not expect."

"Harry has something to say to you, papa."

"Eh! my boy, what is it?" said he kindly.

"Papa, I have killed a partridge. Two fellows got me to hire a gun, and
go out shooting with them last Saturday," said Harry, speaking firmly
and boldly now he had once begun. "We meant only to go after pee-wits,
but a partridge got up, and I killed it."

Then came a pause. Harry stopped, and Dr. May waited, half expecting to
hear that the boy was only brought to confession by finding himself in
a scrape. Margaret spoke. "And he could not be happy till he had told
you."

"Is it so? Is that the whole?" said the