n," said Captain Vallery, "though you do
not wish to play, I shall enjoy kicking it about to remind me of my
schoolboy days."

Norman did not move.

"Go and get it, my dear, as your papa tells you," said Mrs Leslie,
vexed at her grandson's disobedience.

"I will go and get it--where did you leave it, Norman," said Fanny.

"I do not know," he answered.

"I daresay I shall find it," said Fanny, supposing that her brother had
left it in his room, or else in the hall.

She soon came back saying that she had hunted everywhere, but could not
find it.

"I suppose the somebody who stole my whip, has taken that," growled
Norman.

"My dear, no one in this house would I am sure steal anything," said
Mrs Leslie, "but a friend, who considered that you would make a bad use
of your whip, has undoubtedly put it out of your way. Do not let me
bear you make that remark again."

"There are thieves everywhere," muttered Norman.

At that moment, Trusty was seen coming along one of the walks, dragging
something brown, and tossing it playfully about. On he came till he
reached the lawn.

"Why, Norman, I believe the dog has got your football, though he has
managed to let the wind out of it," exclaimed Captain Vallery.

"Oh, the thief, beat him, papa!" cried Norman.

"Oh, pray not!" exclaimed Fanny, "I am sure Trusty did not intend to
hurt Norman's ball," cried Fanny, running forward and catching Trusty.
"Give it up, sir, give it up, you do not know the mischief you have
done," she added.

"Oh, but he must have stolen it, and see he has made a great hole in it
with his teeth!" exclaimed Norman.

Captain Vallery took up the football and examined it.

"The dog did not do this," he said, pointing to the slit in the leather.
"This was done by a sharp knife; we must not wrongfully accuse the dog,
he must have found it in this condition; somebody else cut the hole."

Norman grew very red; his papa looked at him.

"I suspect somebody wanted to see the wind which I told him was within
it," he observed.

Norman grew redder still.

"I thought so," said Captain Vallery. "Did you cut the hole in your
ball, Norman?" he asked sternly.

"I wanted to see the wind in it," murmured Norman.

Now Captain Vallery, though he held some wrong ideas about education,
was a highly honourable man, and as every honourable man must do, he
hated a falsehood, or any approach to a falsehood. He considered that
what some people call white lies