And what is queerer still, all his scholars would fight anyone who said a word against him.

He hes a way, sir, a way of his own with children, and I hev wondered often what is the secret of it." "What do you mean ?" "I'll give you an example, sir.

You know Silas Bolton hes a very bad lad, but the other day he went to Lugur and confessed he had stripped old Padget's apple-tree.

Well, Lugur listened to him and talked to him and then lifted his leather strap and gave him a dozen good licks.

The lad never whimpered, and t' master shook hands with him when the bit o' business was over and said, 'You are a brave boy, Will Bolton.