It annoyed him, and hurt his dignity, and offended his sense of honour to have to let Anna bear the weight of his misdoing; but he still hoped that when he could see Anna she might consent to his making a full confession.

Here, though, he was again doomed to disappointment, for Anna only turned to him pleadingly.

"Don't say anything about it," she cried.

"O Dan, don't! If mother was to know now she would be more angry than ever, and she would never trust me again, or forgive either of us." So Dan, out of his gratitude to her, had to give in; and there the matter rested for the time at least.

But it had brought about two important changes--it cured Dan, and all of them, for some time, of their love of reading in bed; and it made them more tolerant in their feelings towards Anna.
Christmas, since that last one their mother had spent with them, had never been a festive or a happy season in Dr.Trenire's house.