right.

At last he spoke. 'There _was_ a mistake, Jessie: the marks were counted
up wrong, it seems, and your brother has not been to blame, after all.'

'And not lost the "exhibition?"'

'No; his marks more than entitle him to keep it.'

'And you will let him go back next month, father?'

'Certainly. Why, my dear----' For Jessie was off like an arrow from a
bow, and did not even hear his exclamation.

He supposed she had gone to tell the others, and paused to read over the
letter once more, with deep thankfulness, and much sympathy for Cecil.
It was from young Mr. Lomax, not from the Doctor: the similarity in the
handwriting had misled Mr. Cunningham. He said the mistake had been
discovered by his father, but that, as it had been made by him, he
could not rest without personally acknowledging it, and expressing his
regret. He had been himself surprised, in the first instance, at the
result of his addition; but as he had only to do with Cecil in
mathematics, in which he was not _remarkably_ proficient, it did not
seem so astonishing to him as it did to his father, who had watched the
boy's progress in classics. Dr. Lomax had not gone over the books
himself at the time, but having occasion to refer to them for something
the morning of the day on which Mr. Lomax wrote, he had counted up
Cecil's marks throughout the year, just for his own satisfaction, and in
doing so had discovered the mistake that had been made. 'We have since
been over it all together,' continued the son; 'and being now fully
convinced of my mistake, I hasten to apprise you of it, and to express
my deep regret.' If Cecil had seen this sentence, and some which
followed, he would certainly have abandoned his idea that 'young Lomax
might have done it to spite him.'

'Mother!' called Mr. Cunningham, suddenly remembering the appointment
which this letter had made him forget for a few minutes; and as his wife
came running down in answer to his call, he went on: 'Has Jessie told
you, love? I mustn't stay--but take the letter; I shall try to get down
in time to meet that poor boy as he comes out from morning school.'

'I haven't seen Jessie,' Mrs. Cunningham answered; but she seemed to
guess instinctively what the letter contained, and one glance at it
confirmed her impression.

'My darling boy! oh, thank God!' she exclaimed. 'Lewis, you will bring
him straight home with you, won't you?'

'If I don't, I shall have you following me and hugging him be