and shield; and it was all like that,
father."

"And he has taught you all this?" said Cracis, sternly.

"Yes, father. I made him do it; but I did it all as a thoughtless boy."

"And did this old soldier do all as a thoughtless boy," said Cracis,
bitterly, "or as my trusted servant?"

"He did it as my servant as well as yours, father," said the boy,
proudly. "I told him it was his duty to obey me, his master's son,
father, and, poor fellow, he obeyed unwillingly till to-day, when he
felt and I felt, that we had been doing very wrong, that it was all
worse than we had ever thought, and this was the last time the teaching
was to go on. Everything was to be put aside, and I was going to work
hard at my writing and reading, as you wished, and try to think no more
about the army and the wars."

Cracis was silent for a few moments, during which he gazed searchingly
at his son.

"Is this the very truth?" he said.

"Every word of it, master!" cried Serge, excitedly. "Tell him, Marcus
boy, how it was all by chance you put on your helmet and drew your
sword. I wish now, boy, it had gone through me and made an end of me,
before I had to stand up like this and own all my fault."

"What do you mean by that--the sword gone through you, Serge?"

"Yes, father. In my eagerness I made a big thrust at him, and the point
of my sword almost entered his breast."

"Dangerously close?" asked Cracis.

"Horribly close, father, and--there, I am glad you found it all out. I
have no more to say, father, only that you must punish me, not Serge,
and I will bear everything without saying a word."

Cracis was silent for a few minutes, and his voice sounded different
when he spoke again.

"Where have these war-like implements been kept?" he said.

"In your big chest, master, made out of the planks cut from the big
chestnut that was hewn down four years ago."

"Place them back there, Serge," said Cracis, gravely. "Fasten them in,
and carry the chest and bestow it where it may stand beside my bed."

"But father--" began Marcus.

"Silence, sir!" said Cracis. "I wish to think of all this, and not
judge hastily. Take off those unseemly weapons, which are far from
suited for my student son. Let this be done at once, Serge. You,
Marcus, will follow me to my room, and be there an hour hence. I have
much to say to you, my boy, very much to say."

Cracis turned thoughtfully away, leaving his son with the old soldier,
for them