8. This turned out to be a sad affair; for under the dish cover was a heap
of very light feathers; part of the feathers, drawn up by a current of
air, flew about the room, and Charles, in his fright, putting the cover
down hastily, puffed the rest of them off the table.

9. What was to be done? Charles began to pick up the feathers one by one;
but the old gentleman, who was in an adjoining room, hearing a scuffle,
and guessing the cause of it, entered the room, to the consternation of
Charles Brown, who was very soon dismissed as a boy who had not principle
enough to resist even a slight temptation.

10. When the room was once more arranged, Henry Wilkins was placed there
until such time as he should be sent for. No sooner was he left to himself
than his attention was attracted by a plate of fine, ripe cherries. Now
Henry was uncommonly fond of cherries, and he thought it would be
impossible to miss one cherry among so many. He looked and longed, and
longed and looked, for some time, and just as he had got off his seat to
take one, he heard, as he thought, a foot coming to the door; but no, it
was a false alarm.

11. Taking fresh courage, he went cautiously and took a very fine cherry,
for he was determined to take but one, and put it into his mouth. It was
excellent; and then he persuaded himself that he ran no risk in taking
another; this he did, and hastily popped it into his mouth.

12. Now, the old gentleman had placed a few artificial cherries at the top
of the others, filled with Cayenne pepper; one of these Henry had
unfortunately taken, and it made his month smart and burn most
intolerably. The old gentleman heard him coughing, and knew very well what
was the matter. The boy that would take what did not belong to him, if no