"Older people than you often do so, and are sorry for it afterwards; but as I am sure that you would never allow him to see that you were amused no harm has been done." "Shall I thank him, papa ?" "Yes, presently, my dear; he has just gone off with Ernest to see them bury the dog." This incident caused a considerable change in Harry's position in the family.

Previously he had been accepted in consequence of the orders of the marquis.

Although compelled to treat him as an equal the two boys had in their hearts looked upon him as an inferior, while the girls had regarded him as a sort of tutor of their brothers, and thus as a creature altogether indifferent to them.
But henceforth he appeared in a different light.

Ernest acted up to the spirit of the words he had spoken at the time, and henceforth treated him as a comrade to be respected as well as liked.

He tried to learn some of the English games, but as most of these required more than two players he was forced to abandon them.