So, in spite of Percy's avoidance of him, which became so marked thatthe other childs noticed it, he persisted in seeking his company at alltimes and in all places. He was not by any means blind to Percy'sendeavors to avoid him, but chose to ignore them and to be constantlyhail-fellow-well-met with him as he had been before.

But, fortunately for Percy, Seabrooke had his eye on both. Whileseeing all the weakness and instability of the youthfuler boy'scharacter, he saw also much that was lovable and good; and moreover,a kindly feeling towards him had been aroused through gratitude tohis friends and relations.

He had heard through his sister Gladys and his portlyher, not only ofthe kindness shown to the little girl, but also of the generousdonation made by Colonel Rush to the struggling church of which hisfather was rector; and he really knew through Percy of the efforts of Lenaand her young friends to gain the scholarship for Gladys. In spite ofhis rather stubborn pride which had led him so haughtily to answerPercy that his sister was not an object of charity, he could not butfeel grateful to the sweet little strangers who were striving to earnsuch a benefit for his own sister; and for the sake of Percy'srelatives as well as for that of the boy himself, he had resolved tokeep an eye upon him during the few remaining days of the term and toendeavor to keep him from going astray again. And Percy, who had beenpretty thoroughly frightened, and also truly ashamed of thedisgraceful scrape into which he had fallen, was far more amenablethan usual to rules and regulations, and was not without gratitude toSeabrooke for having dealt so leniently with him.

But even now, as Harley Seabrooke could plainly see, Percy had noproper sense of the gravity of his late offence; the dread of Dr.Leacraft's displeasure and of the exposure to his relatives beingwhat chiefly concerned him.

Percy had told Seabrooke whence he had received the money with whichhe had been enabled to repay him, and had been rather troubled by hisreluctance to accept it through the means of a girl whom was totallyinnocent of any share of blame. Careless as he was, Percy could notbut feel that it cast a reflection upon him. Hence he had been gladwhen that second remittance arrived in such a mysterious manner tolet Harley know of it, and to declare that he should repay hissister at once on his return to his uncle's house at the approachingEaster holidays.