he can lick any boy in the school already.
It will be worse than ever without him!"

"Yes, you will miss your constant follower. He has been your shadow
ever since he could walk. But there's the clock, I must not keep you any
longer; good-bye, Norman."

Harry gave his brother the letter as soon as they were outside the
house, and, while he read it, took his arm and guided him. "Well," said
Norman as he finished.

"It is all right," said Harry; and the two brothers said no more; there
was something rising up in their throats at the thought that they had
very few more walks to take together to Bishop Whichcote's school;
Norman's heart was very full at the prospect of another vacancy in his
home, and Harry's was swelling between the ardour of enterprise and the
thought of bidding good-bye to each familiar object, and, above all, to
the brother who had been his model and admiration from babyhood.

"June!" at length he broke out, "I wish you were going too. I should not
mind it half so much if you were."

"Nonsense, Harry! you want to be July after June all your life, do you?
You'll be much more of a man without me."

That evening Dr. May called Harry into his study to ask him if his mind
was made up; he put the subject fairly before him, and told him not to
be deterred from choosing what he thought would be for the best by any
scruples about changing his mind. "We shall not think a bit the worse of
you; better now, than too late."

There was that in his face and tone that caused Harry to say, in a
stifled voice, "I did not think you would care so much, papa; I won't
go, if you do."

Dr. May put his hand on his shoulder, and was silent. Harry felt a
strange mixture of hope and fear, joy and grief, disappointment and
relief. "You must not give it up on that account, my dear," he said at
length; "I should not let you see this, if it did not happen at a time
when I can't command myself as I ought. If you were an only son, it
might be your duty to stay; being one of many, 'tis nonsense to make a
rout about parting with you. If it is better for you, it is better for
all of us; and we shall do very well when you are once fairly gone.
Don't let that influence you for a moment."

Harry paused, not that he doubted, but he was collecting his
energies--"Then, papa, I choose the navy."

"Then it is done, Harry. You have chosen in a dutiful, unselfish spirit,
and I trust it will prosper with you; for I am sure your father's