88 THE FIRST GLASS OF WINE

 

mark, they were obliged to part, in order to :
go to their respective desks. ne

Dick smiled to himself as he saw Clare’s
face crimson with a painful flush, but he did
Ss not care to say anything more at that time.
He had put one little drop of poison into
Clare’s deep love for his mother, and: he
wanted it to have time to do its work, before
he threw any decided temptation in his way.

‘IT should. not like to be a flat,” said
Clare to himself, -as he turned. over the
pages of one of his books.  «* Mother is
pretty careful of me, that’s a fact. I wish
Thad a father, like other boys.” st

The next day Clare had some trouble
with one of his sums. He had_ scarcely
sufficient time tu do. it, before the class in
arithmetic should be called He groaned
aloud, as the answer came wrong, time after —

time.