and his master too.
Young donkey! Mischievous young donkey, that's what he is, Edward; and
now he won't have a penny to bless himself with till his share of the
statue is paid for." Then aside to himself he muttered as he helped
himself to snuff: "Humph! Must send him a tip. A few shillings are
always welcome to a school-boy."

Mr Western stared gloomily at the fire and kept silent for a minute or
more. Then, bringing his hand down heavily upon the table, he exclaimed
fretfully: "The boy worries me. What makes him wish to play these
pranks? I have done my best, and so has your sister. He has had
warning enough, and surely ought to keep out of these troubles. I
believe he is wilfully mischievous, yes wilfully mischievous, and a bad
boy at heart, and I will have no more to do with him. I will give him
one more start, and leave him to make his way in the world as best he
can. If he fails then he must look to himself, and thank himself alone
for the trouble he has fallen into."

Joe started and looked uneasily at his brother-in-law.

"Nonsense, Edward! Nonsense!" he said sharply. "I cannot make you out;
and, to be perfectly candid, you are as much a mystery to me as the lad
seems to be to you. Cannot you understand that he is simply full of
spirit, and though, no doubt, he is sorry afterwards for the pranks he
plays, yet they are the result of thoughtlessness and an abundance of
good health and animal spirits? Bless my life! where would England have
been but for lads of his nature? A sunny, cheerful lad he is, and I
tell you plainly you do him an injustice when you say he is bad at
heart. Look at the letter again. Doesn't Mr Ebden admit that he owned
up like a gentleman? What more do you want? Would you have the boy a
girl?"

Joe snorted indignantly, and blew his nose so violently that Mr Western
started.

"The misunderstanding is not on my side," he retorted. "I who have
watched him all these years should know; and it is you, Joseph, who have
helped to ruin him. You have egged him on, and now, when he should be
quiet and steady, he is simply unmanageable. But we will not wrangle
about the matter. Philip shall leave Mr Ebden's house at the end of
this term, and shall take a position as clerk in the office of a friend
of mine. After that he must look to himself, for I will have no more to
do with him."

"Then I tell you the lad will not submit to your proposal," Joe said
hotly. "He is too fr