A Great Man

e simplicity of the mutton atoned for the extravagance of the birthday pudding, while the extravagance of the birthday pudding excused the si

was not supposed to eat; he also nibbled at the potatoes, and compressed the large remnant of them

Aunt Annie, 'don't l

ed upon a plausible expl

d to eat,' he p

ill, are you?' his m

birthday pudding for supper, aft

That might be safer,' said Aunt Annie, and she adde

, auntie; I do

ght exclaimed. 'Annie, wh

ind over the table like oil. 'Give him some Seigel by all means, if you think

d like some Seig

th him; and Mrs. Knight was far too simple a soul to suspect the horrid connection between

the great annual ceremony of Speech Day began at half-past seven. Henry reclined on the sof

shop for a moment. 'Oh yes! It will pass off. Give him a cup of str

you, my dear?' Mrs. Knight

nodded

decidedly worse at half-past three than he had been at half-past two, and they could have prophesied with assurance that he would be still worse at half-past four than he was then. They knew that time would betray them. Yet they persisted in falsehood, because they were incapable of imagining the Speech Day ceremony without Henry i

light insurrections, but culminating in universal upheaval, the overthrowing of dynasties, the establishment of committees of public saf

tter now!' said Mrs

o they carrie

martyr unea

uple of hours,' Au

ry would be able to go to the prize-giving. They seemed to have silently agreed t

hing!' observe

him, in her vision, to ab

. Knight pu

t, father?' his w

le that Henry will not be able to be present to-night. They

ed of Henry's presence and help, Mrs. Knight felt less keenly the pang of her own misfort

two prizes-Self-Help and The Voya

kened once, bu

e he can see them in the mo

wind up his watch for him.... Bless us! what'

asked Tom. 'That's what I can'

that young man privately,' Mr. Knight had said to the two women in a formidable t

ell you all ab

Tom's choice of nouns, 'was very loyal. I had to drag the story out of him bit by bi

mendous! I've no doubt the afternoon was terrible, but the morning was worth it.

d. 'He was very upset. He told me he didn't kno

aid Tom-he gazed at the carpet; 'seriously--' He paused. 'If I had thought of

Knight wh

re all still aliv

er. 'Of course you're an independent member of society, and your own master; but

just me, have had a row. I didn't like their style, nor their man

them to go

hing of Bollingtons sinc

ords. That is where you are going to yourself. Two guineas a week, at your age,

my words. I have two to say to y

nto the shop by the shop-stairs. The cashie

tly, 'uncle wants change for

Mr. Tom. Wit

had just struck him, taking the sovereigns

m,' said the cashier, smi

and descended rapidly into the street by the house-stairs. He chose this effective