AN UNEXPECTED REVELA TION. 27

of his absence, if by this means he would become
more diligent in his studies and gain more advantage.
Now, however, I find that he turns my intention into
a new cause for doubting my affection, and God for-
bid that I should estrange my son's heart further
from me than it is already," and here Mr. Gilbert's
voice grew husky.
 His old friend did not speak for a few moments.
Then he said-
 "Gilbert, believe me, that if you allowed your
boy to see a twentieth part of the affection you
really bear him, it would be the better for the hap-
piness of you both: you too carefully shut up your
affectionate feelings in an outer crust of coldness
and severity, and the consequence is, you each then
misunderstand the other. Jack has inherited your
own temperament even intensified, and nothing is
more injurious to his disposition than to be allowed
-if not encouraged-to keep up that dogged reserve
and coldness to which he is by nature already too
much inclined."
 One must be strict with boys," was the reply,
"they ought to be treated so much more severely
than girls, if one wishes his sons to become manly."
 I do not agree with you as to the necessity of
severity either in the treatment of boys or girls, un-