“Both of which are wonderfully changed.”
“Yes, my dear, granted, and he does not talk so much about the workhouse. He was a great deal better, and I could have forgiven this mad, boyish prank—though what could have influenced him, I don’t know.”
“I can tell you,” said Helen. “A boy’s love of adventure. The idea of going off in a boat to discover some wonderful island where he could live a Robinson Crusoe kind of life.”
“A young donkey!” cried the doctor. “But there, it’s all off. I could have forgiven everything, but the cowardly lying.”
“Then, poor fellow, he is forgiven.”
“Indeed, no, my dear. He goes back to the Union to-morrow; but I shall tell Hippetts to apprentice him to some good trade at once, and I will pay a handsome premium. Confound Hippetts! He’ll laugh at me.”
“No, he will not, papa.”
“Yes, he will, my dear. I know the man.”
“But you will not be laughed at.”
“Why not?”