OR, CLARENCE MORTIMER. 17

 

‘¢ What does all this mean, Clare?” she
said, in quite an altered tone. ‘* Have you
boys been up to any mischief?”

Dick and Ben were quite bad enough to
have attempted to make up some lie to suit
the occasion, but Clare had not gone quite
so far in wickedness as that, so he just came
right out with the truth.

‘¢ T had a little treat this afternoon for the
boys, mother,” he said, ‘¢and Ben brought
some wine with him, so we all drank Sonik
Of Ae

yes Clare, I cannot tell you how you have
grieved me!” said Mrs. Mortimer. «« You
know I have always forbidden you. even to
taste of wine, and yet you have wilfully dis-
obeyed me. I could not have believed that
you would have been guilty of such con-

duct ® 2 ‘