"
Henry cried as though beyond consolation.
"I hate leaving you this way," continued his father; "but by the time
I come home you will see it was the best thing for you; and look up
to Uncle John as your best friend. Why, Hal, boy, you'll be a tall
fellow of fourteen! Let me find you godly and manly: you can't be
one without the other. There now, good night, God bless you."
More might have been said to Henry on his fault and what had led to
it; but what his father did say was likely to sink deeper as he grew
older, and had more sense and feeling.
From him Captain Merrifield went to the school-room, where Miss
Fosbrook was packing up for the little girls, and putting last
stitches to their equipments, with hearty good-will and kindness, as
if she had been their elder sister.
He thanked her most warmly; and without sending away the girls, who
were both busy tacking in little white tuckers to the evening frocks,
he began to settle about the terms on which she was to remain at
Stokesley. He said that he could not possibly have left his wife
without a person on whose friendly help and good management of the
children he could depend.
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