e is measured with public schoolmen,
who have had more first-rate tutorship than poor old Hoxton's."

"Ah! he says so, but I thought that was all his humility."

"Better he should be prepared. If he had had all those advantages--but
it may be as well after all. I always had a hankering to have sent him
to Eton, but your dear mother used to say it was not fair on the others.
And now, to see him striving in order to give the advantage of it to his
little brother! I only hope Master Thomas is worthy of it--but it is a
boy I can't understand."

"Nor I," said Ethel; "he never seems to say anything he can help, and
goes after Norman without talking to any one else."

"I give him up to Norman's management," said Dr. May. "He says the
boy is very clever, but I have not seen it; and, as to more serious
matters--However, I must take it on Norman's word that he is wishing to
learn truth. We made an utter mistake about him; I don't know who is to
blame for it."

"Have you told Margaret about Norman's plan?" asked Ethel.

"No; he desired me to say nothing. Indeed, I should not like Tom's
leaving school to be talked of beforehand."

"Norman said he did not want Flora to hear, because she is so much with
the Hoxton's, and he said they would all watch him."

"Ay, ay, and we must keep his secret. What a boy it is! But it is not
safe to say conceited things. We shall have a fall yet, Ethel. Not
seventeen, remember, and brought up at a mere grammar-school."

"But we shall still have the spirit that made him try," said Ethel, "and
that is the thing."

"And, to tell the truth," said the doctor, lingering, "for my own part,
I don't care a rush for it!" and he dashed off to his work, while Ethel
stood laughing.

"Papa was so very kind," said Norman tremulously, when Ethel followed
him to his room, to congratulate him on having gained his father's
assent, of which he had been more in doubt than she.

"And you see he quite approves of the scheme for Tom, except for
thinking it disrespect to Bishop Whichcote. He said he only hoped Tom
was worthy of it."

"Tom!" cried Norman. "Take my word for it, Ethel, Tom will surprise you
all. He will beat us all to nothing, I know!"

"If only he can be cured of--"

"He will," said Norman, "when once he has outgrown his frights, and that
he may do at Mr. Wilmot's, apart from those fellows. When I go up for
this scholarship, you must look after his lessons, and see if you are
not surprised a