"He ought never to have been sent to school," said the doctor--"that tendency was the very worst beginning." "It was a great pity; I was very wrong," said Margaret, in great concern.
"I did not mean to blame you, my dear," said her father affectionately.
"I know you only meant to act for the best, but--" and he put his hand over his face, and then came the sighing groan, which pained Margaret ten thousand times more than reproaches, and which, in an instant, dispersed all the indignation burning within Norman, though the pain remained at his father's thinking him guilty of neglect, but he did not like, at that moment, to speak in self-justification.
After a short space, Dr.May desired to hear what were the deceptions to which Margaret had alluded, and made Norman tell what he knew of the affair of the blotted book.

Ethel spoke hopefully when she had heard it.
"Well, do you know, I think he will do better now.

You see, Edward made him conceal it, and he has been going on with it on his mind, and in that boy's power ever since; but now it is cleared up and confessed, he will begin afresh and do better.

Don't you think so, Norman?
don't you, papa ?" "I should have more hope if I had seen anything like confession or repentance," said Dr.May; "but that provoked me more than all--I could only perceive that he was sorry to be found out, and afraid of punishment." "Perhaps, when he has recovered the first fright, he will come to his better self," said Margaret; for she guessed, what indeed was the case, that the doctor's anger on this first shock of the discovery of the fault he most abhorred had been so great, that a fearful cowering spirit would be completely overwhelmed; and, as there had been no sorrow shown for the fault, there had been none of that softening and relenting that won so much love and confidence.
Every one felt that talking only made them more unhappy, they tried to return to their occupations, and so passed the time till night.

Then, as Richard was carrying Margaret upstairs, Norman lingered to say, "Papa, I am very sorry you should think I neglected Tom.