94 DOGGED A CK.

to confess this to my father. So he, thinking me
hardened and unrepentant, treated me as such.
 "At other times he thought me to blame when
I really was not so. One word from me would often
have explained matters satisfactorily-that word I
was too proud and reserved to speak Consequently
I often hugged to my heart feelings of injustice done
to me, when I now see, alas! that it was I who was
unjust to my father "
 "That is all very like the way it is at home! I do
see now what you mean, Mr. Lane."
 One day, however, when I was about twelve
years old, I committed my last act of cruelty and
injustice to my father, my crowning folly of pride
and reserve.
 "My father had. shortly before ordered me to
avoid the companionship of a certain lad named
Richards. This was a badly-conducted, coarse lad,
and I had little difficulty in obeying my father's
will in the matter, for I had no pleasure in being with
him. Well, on the day in question, some friends
of mine had invited me to go on a nutting expedi-
tion with them, and my father consented, provided
we did not invite or allow Richards to joinr us. We
had a delightful day in the woods and saw nothing
of Richards.
 Unluckily, some friends called on my father, and