They labored over Cyril, to make him leave Lad alone.

They pointed out to him the mean cowardice of his course of torture.

They even threatened to send him to nearer relatives until his parents' return.

All in vain.
Faced with the most undeniable proofs, the child invariably would lie.
He denied that he had ever ill-used Lad in any way; and would weep, in righteous indignation, at the charges.

What was to be done?
"I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!" sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.