are black notwithstanding, and he knew
in his heart that God hates them.

"Why did you say, then, that the dog had torn your ball, when you knew
that you yourself cut it?" he asked. "I have never before punished you,
but I intend to do so. I will not have a son of mine become a liar."

"My dear," he said, turning to his wife, "take Norman in and put him to
bed. I cannot look at him any more to-night."

Mrs Vallery took Norman by the hand and led him into the house.

Mrs Leslie said nothing, but she was glad to find that her son-in-law
considered it necessary to try and put a stop to one of the bad ways of
his son. Perhaps he might in time find out that there were other bad
ways of his which it would be as well to check.

Captain Vallery walked up and down on the lawn by himself for some time,
considering how he should treat his son, and he began to reflect whether
after all his system of allowing a boy to have his own way was likely to
prove the best.

CHAPTER THREE.

CAN YOU FORGIVE IT?

Next morning, when Norman came down to breakfast, his papa, instead of
playfully addressing him, turned away his head and took no notice of his
presence. Norman ate his breakfast in silence. Fanny looked very sad,
she felt that her brother deserved punishment, and that it might teach
him the necessity of speaking the truth. Still she could not bear the
thoughts of her young brother being beaten, and from what her papa had
said she believed he intended to do so. Her grandmamma had quoted the
proverb of Solomon, "He that spareth the rod hateth his son, but he that
loveth him chasteneth him betimes."

"You are right, Mrs Leslie," her papa had remarked, "I acknowledge the
wisdom of the great king, and must follow his advice."

After breakfast Fanny's governess arrived, and Captain Vallery took his
son up into his room. What happened there Norman did not divulge, but
he looked very crestfallen during the rest of the morning. When he met
Fanny afterwards he told her that he did not intend to tell any more
lies.

"I hope you will not do so," said Fanny, "remember that God hates them
even more than papa or anybody else can do, and He knows when you tell
an untruth, although no human being may find it out."

After dinner Norman appeared to have recovered his spirits, and Fanny
took him out to play battledore and shuttlecock.

They were beginning to get tired, when Mrs Leslie and their mamma came
out.

"Come and w