“Where, father?”
“In your pocket.”
“Nothing, father. My knife and things are in the other clothes. Oh, this!” he said, suddenly remembering the case, and turning scarlet.
“Yes,” said Mr Temple severely, “that! Open it.”
Dick took the case from his pocket slowly and opened it.
“I thought so,” said Mr Temple sternly. “Cigars for a boy not sixteen! Are you aware, sir, that what may be perfectly correct in a man is often in a boy nothing better than a vice.”
“Yes, father,” said Dick humbly.
“So you have taken to smoking?”
“No, father.”
“Don’t tell me a falsehood, sir!” cried Mr Temple hotly. “How dare you deny it when you have that case in your hand. Now, look here, sir: I want to treat my boys as lads who are growing into men. I am not going to talk to you about punishment—I don’t believe in coarse punishments. I want there to be a manly feeling of confidence between me and my boys.”