e
got for some mischief, I'll be bound."

"Sally! remember where it is said, 'He that spareth the rod, spoileth
the child,'" said Mr Benson, austerely.

"Aye, I remember; and I remember a bit more than you want me to
remember, I reckon. It were King Solomon as spoke them words, and it
were King Solomon's son that were King Rehoboam, and no great shakes
either. I can remember what is said on him, 2 Chronicles, xii.
chapter, 14th verse: 'And he,' that's King Rehoboam, the lad that
tasted the rod, 'did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek
the Lord.' I've not been reading my chapters every night for fifty
year to be caught napping by a Dissenter, neither!" said she,
triumphantly. "Come along, Leonard." She stretched out her hand to
the child, thinking that she had conquered.

But Leonard did not stir. He looked wistfully at Mr Benson. "Come!"
said she, impatiently. The boy's mouth quivered.

"If you want to whip me, uncle, you may do it. I don't much mind."

Put in this form, it was impossible to carry out his intentions; and
so Mr Benson told the lad he might go--that he would speak to him
another time. Leonard went away, more subdued in spirit than if he
had been whipped. Sally lingered a moment. She stopped to add: "I
think it's for them without sin to throw stones at a poor child, and
cut up good laburnum-branches to whip him. I only do as my betters
do, when I call Leonard's mother Mrs Denbigh." The moment she had
said this she was sorry; it was an ungenerous advantage after the
enemy had acknowledged himself defeated. Mr Benson dropped his head
upon his hands, and hid his face, and sighed deeply.

Leonard flew in search of his mother, as in search of a refuge. If
he had found her calm, he would have burst into a passion of crying
after his agitation; as it was, he came upon her kneeling and
sobbing, and he stood quite still. Then he threw his arms round her
neck, and said: "Mamma! mamma! I will be good--I make a promise; I
will speak true--I make a promise." And he kept his word.

Miss Benson piqued herself upon being less carried away by her love
for this child than any one else in the house; she talked severely,
and had capital theories; but her severity ended in talk, and
her theories would not work. However, she read several books on
education, knitting socks for Leonard all the while; and, upon the
whole, I think, the hands were more usefully employed than the head,
and the good honest heart b