hink
anything else. Besides, he is not well. He is growing too fast." And
indeed, Hughie's pale, miserable face gave ground enough for this
opinion.

"That boy is not well," she said to her husband.

"Which boy?"

"Hughie," she replied. "He is looking miserable, and somehow he is
different."

"Oh, nonsense! He eats well enough, and sleeps well enough," said her
husband, making light of her fears.

"There's something wrong," repeated his wife. "And he hates his school."

"Well, I don't wonder at that," said her husband, sharply. "I don't see
how any boy of spirit could take much pleasure in that kind of a school.
The boys are just wasting their time, and worse than that, they have
lost all the old spirit. I must see to it that the policy of those
close-fisted trustees is changed. I am not going to put up with those
chits of girls teaching any longer."

"There may be something in what you say," said his wife, sadly, "but
certainly Hughie is always begging to stay at home from school."

"And indeed, he might as well stay home," answered her husband, "for all
the good he gets."

"I do wish we had a good man in charge," replied his wife, with a great
sigh. "It is very important that these boys should have a good, strong
man over them. How much it means to a boy at Hughie's time of life! But
so few are willing to come away into the backwoods here for so small a
salary."

Suddenly her husband laid down his pipe.

"I have it!" he exclaimed. "The very thing! Wouldn't this be the very
thing for young Craven. You remember, the young man that Professor
MacLauchlan was writing about."

His wife shook her head very decidedly.

"Not at all," she said. "Didn't Professor MacLauchlan say he was
dissipated?"

"O, just a little wild. Got going with some loose companions. Out here
there would be no temptation."

"I am not at all sure of that," said his wife, "and I would not like
Hughie to be under his influence."

"MacLauchlan says he is a young man of fine disposition and of fine
parts," argued her husband, "and if temptation were removed from him he
believes he would turn out a good man."

Mrs. Murray shook her head doubtfully. "He is not the man to put Hughie
under just now."

"What are we to do with Hughie?" replied her husband. "He is getting no
good in the school as it is, and we cannot send him away yet."

"Send him away!" exclaimed his wife. "No, no, not a child like that."

"Craven might be a very good