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180 THE CHERRY-STONES.

manding his irritation as well as he was
able, he took the child on his knee, and
began to try to persuade him that he
was only. in jest. ‘“ Why, Walter,” he
said, ‘you do not think I was in earnest,
do you? I should have shaken you a
great deal harder if I had intended to
hurt you. Think no more about that
silly cherry-stone; and do not tell the
boys about what has happened, for: they
might think that I meant to be really
unkind to you.”

Harry had a more difficult task than
he had anticipated. Walter, though a
quick-tempered boy, was warm-hearted,
and very forgiving; but he could not get
over the impression that his brother was
not joking when he shook him; and,
moreover, he had a vague, lingering sus-
picion that it was wrong to say nothing