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wondered what was the matter with him, but the truth was that he had heard a child's weak cry down at the fish-pond, and nothing could hold him. So far as the accident could be rightly made out, it came to this: Silvia, getting into a cranky boat, awkwardly upset it; her brother, who was tying flies on the shore, rushed in after her, and got her into shallow water, but in so doing fell back into a deeper part; then Silvia screamed, and her scream brought Lion to the rescue, who took the boy out, and looked on lovingly while his sister strove to revive him.

"That dog shall never sleep in a kennel again," said John Silchester.

Nor did he; thereafter he slept in the Squire's bedroom.

Mrs. Silchester and the Doctor between them soon got the children right again. A day in bed brought them round. When the mother and the physician had done their duty, they had a brief conversation.

"My poor boy was nearly gone they tell me, Dr. Sterne."

"Not so bad as that. Brandy soon revived him. Brandy is a thing that should always be carried in the pocket."

"Do you think so? It might tempt some people," said Mrs. Silchester slyly, for she knew the Doctor liked his aphorizing.

66

Temptation is the mother of virtue," he replied. "All persons who cannot resist temptation should be put beyond its reach. But Silvester showed himself a brave boy, and Lion a brave dog, and it is just as well that children should learn to trust to themselves and learn to meet danger bravely. Half the evils

of life result from fear."

"'Tis conscience makes cowards of us all," quoted Mrs. Silchester.

66

Shakespeare is wrong there, or at least the character he makes speak. Conscience makes men good and brave, for conscience is the voice of God in the hearts of men. A man

must be a coward born to fear his own conscience."

"I must think over that, Doctor, and I must go now and see that the children are recovering."

The Doctor went to the library. He found the Squire on Olympus, reading Lucretius, Tonson's famous illustrated quarto of 1712.

"My poor boy was nearly gone they tell

me, Dr. Sterne."

"Not so bad as that.

Brandy soon revived

him. Brandy is a thing that should always be carried in the pocket."

"Do you think so? It might tempt some people," said Mrs. Silchester slyly, for she knew the Doctor liked his aphorizing.

66

Temptation is the mother of virtue," he

replied.

"All

"All persons who cannot resist temptation should be put beyond its reach. But · Silvester showed himself a brave boy, and Lion a brave dog, and it is just as well that children should learn to trust to themselves and learn to meet danger bravely. Half the evils

of life result from fear."

"'Tis conscience makes cowards of us all," quoted Mrs. Silchester.

66

Shakespeare is wrong there, or at least the character he makes speak. Conscience makes men good and brave, for conscience is the

voice of God in the hearts of men. A man

must be a coward born to fear his own conscience."

"I must think over that, Doctor, and I must go now and see that the children are recovering."

The Doctor went to the library. He found the Squire on Olympus, reading Lucretius, Tonson's famous illustrated quarto of 1712.

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