e son," and his father kissed him.

"But papa, I was badder than all that." Badder seemed to admit more
enormity than simply bad, "I--I went in the park to walk and I staid
so long that--that----"

"That you were ashamed to go back?"

"Well"--Jack had spasms of direct truth tellings now and then, like
most children.

"I didn't feel so 'shamed then as when teacher spoke of it this
afternoon. It looked so pleasant I thought I'd go on. Some of the boys
said it was funny to play hookey, but I don't want to do it ever
again. And if I had been killed somewhere!" Jack began to cry.

The father held him close for some minutes.

"Jack," he said at length, "you have been a very bad boy, and I am
glad it wasn't a happy afternoon. I hope you never will play truant
again. Think how mama and I suffered not knowing what had happened to
you and afraid our little boy might be brought home dead. You ought to
be punished but you seem to have suffered somewhat, and I am going to
trust you, only, you can't go walking with me on Sunday, and maybe
there are some other pleasures you will be deprived of. I'm awfully
sorry and mortified that your name must go on record down at City Hall
as a truant from school. Some of my friends may see it. These things
are sure to get to daylight and make your family ashamed of them, and
your teachers; just try to think of that when you do the things you
know are wrong, for even a little boy will know that. Didn't
something tell you staying from school was wrong?"

Jack crept closer in his father's arms. He was too young for much
reasoning, and the man wondered if he would have been so penitent if
he had had what boys call a real good time.

They let the matter go at that. Jack looked very wistful when his
father took the babies out Sunday morning and said no word to him. He
followed Marilla round as she dusted up the rooms and wanted to know
about Bethany Home.

"Were the children always good?"

"Oh, no. There were a good many bad ones among them."

"Did they have a strap?"

"Yes, a bigger one than your father's."

"Will papa get a bigger one when I'm big?"

"Oh, Jack, I hope you won't need any strap. Why can't you be a good
boy?"

Jack gave a long sigh. "Sometimes badness comes into your mind just
sudden like."

After a pause--"Did you like Bethany Home?"

"Not as well as being here. I've told you that forty times. And there
were no little babies. And no dessert, only a teeny little bi