e. "There, rest your head! Has it not been
aching all day?"

"I do not think he is ill," said Norman; "but there is something he
thinks I had better tell you."

Tom would fain have been on his feet, yet the support of that shoulder
was inexpressibly comfortable to his aching temples, and he could not
but wait for the shock of being roughly shaken and put down. So, as his
brother related what had occurred, he crouched and trembled more and
more on his father's breast, till, to his surprise, he found the other
arm passed round him in support, drawing him more tenderly close.

"My poor little fellow!" said Dr. May, trying to look into the drooping
face, "I grieve to have exposed you to such usage as this! I little
thought it of Stoneborough fellows!"

"He is very sorry," said Norman, much distressed by the condition of the
culprit.

"I see it--I see it plainly," said Dr. May. "Tommy, my boy, why should
you tremble when you are with me?"

"He has, been in great dread of your being displeased."

"My boy, do you not know how I forgive you?" Tom clung round his neck,
as if to steady himself.

"Oh, papa! I thought you would never--"

"Nay, you need never have thought so, my boy! What have I done that you
should fear me?"

Tom did not speak, but nestled up to him with more confidence. "There!
that's better! Poor child! what he must have suffered! He was not fit
for the place! I had thought him looking ill. Little did I guess the
cause."

"He says his head has ached ever since Sunday," said Norman; "and I
believe he has hardly eaten or slept properly since."

"He shall never be under their power again! Thanks to you, Norman. Do
you hear that, Tommy?"

The answer was hardly audible. The little boy was already almost asleep,
worn out with all he had undergone. Norman began to clear the sofa, that
they might lay him down, but his father would not hear of disturbing
him, and, sending Norman away, sat still for more than an hour, until
the child slowly awoke, and scarcely recalling what had happened, stood
up between his father's knees, rubbing his eyes, and looking bewildered.

"You are better now, my boy?"

"I thought you would be very angry," slowly murmured Tom, as the past
returned on him.

"Never, while you are sorry for your faults, and own them freely."

"I'm glad I did," said the boy, still half asleep. "I did not know you
would be so kind."

"Ah! Tom, I fear it was as much my fault as yours that you d