say cheerfully, "What! have you been getting it again, Ned?" the
boy would smile grimly and nod, but no complaint ever passed his
lips.

There was no disgrace in being flogged--it was the natural lot
of schoolboys; why should he make a fuss about it? So he held his
tongue. But Mr. Hathorn was not altogether wrong. Ned Sankey was
obstinate, but though obstinate he was by no means sulky. When he
made up his mind to do a thing he did it, whether it was to be at
the top of his class in order to please his father, or to set his
teeth like iron and let no sound issue from them as Mr. Hathorn's
cane descended on his back.

Ned Sankey was about fourteen years of age. He had a brother and
a sister, but between them and himself was a gap of four years, as
some sisters who had been born after him had died in infancy. Ned
adored his father, who was a most kind and genial man, and would
have suffered anything in silence rather than have caused him any
troubles or annoyance by complaining to him.

For his mother his feelings were altogether different. She was a
kindly and well intentioned woman, but weak and silly. On leaving
school she had gone out to join her father in India. Captain
Sankey had sailed in the same ship and, taken by her pretty face
and helpless, dependent manner, he had fallen in love with her,
knowing nothing of her real disposition, and they had been married
upon their arrival at the termination of the voyage. So loyal
was his nature that it is probable Captain Sankey never admitted
even to himself that his marriage had been a mistake; but none of
his comrades ever doubted it. His wife turned out one of the most