« said Mr. Benson, »he has not only attended to it, but
treasured up every expression you have used.«
    »Well, I tried to get some opinion, or sign of emotion, out of him. I had
not much hope of the latter, I must own; but I thought he would have said
whether I had done wisely or not in procuring that Glasgow situation for Dick -
that he would, perhaps, have been indignant at my ousting him from the
partnership so entirely on my own responsibility.«
    »How did Richard take it?«
    »Oh, nothing could exceed his penitence. If one had never heard of the
proverb, When the devil was sick, the devil a monk would be, I should have had
greater faith in him; or if he had had more strength of character to begin with,
or more reality and less outward appearance of good principle instilled into
him. However, this Glasgow situation is the very thing; clear, defined duties,
no great trust reposed in him, a kind and watchful head, and introductions to a
better class of associates than I fancy he has ever been thrown amongst before.
For, you know, Mr. Bradshaw dreaded all intimacies for his son, and wanted him
to eschew all society beyond his own family - would never allow him to ask a
friend home. Really, when I think of the unnatural life Mr. Bradshaw expected
him to lead, I get into charity with him, and have hopes. By the way, have you
ever succeeded in persuading his mother to send Leonard to school? He may run
the same risk from isolation as Dick: not be able to choose his companions
wisely when he grows up, but be too much overcome by the excitement of society
to be very discreet as to who are his associates. Have you spoken to her about
my plan?«
    »Yes! but to no purpose. I cannot say that she would even admit an argument
on the subject. She seemed to have an invincible repugnance to the idea of
exposing him to the remarks of other boys on his peculiar position.«
    »They need never know of it. Besides, sooner or later, he must step out of
his narrow circle, and encounter remark and scorn.«
    »True,« said Mr. Benson mournfully. »And you may depend upon it, if it
really is the best for Leonard, she will come round to it by-and-by. It is
almost extraordinary to see the way in which her earnest and most unselfish
devotion to this boy's
