“I should think not indeed,” cried his mother. “Esau, I’m ashamed of you for talking like that. Has he been saying anything about it to you, Master Gordon?”
“Oh, yes, but he don’t mean it,” I replied. “It’s only when he’s cross.”
“Has master been scolding him then again?”
“Scolding?” cried Esau scornfully, “why he never does nothing else.”
“Then you must have given him cause, Esau dear. Master Gordon, what had he done?”
“Mr Dempster caught him asleep.”
“Well, I couldn’t help it. My head was so heavy.”
“Yes,” sighed Mrs Dean, “his head always was very heavy, poor boy. He goes to sleep at such strange times too, sir.”
“Well, don’t tell him that, mother,” cried Esau. “You tell everybody.”
“Well, dear, there’s no harm in it. I never said it was your fault. Lots of times, Master Gordon, I’ve known him go to sleep when at play, and once I found him quite fast with his mouth full of bread and butter.”