What more could parents do than they had done? The answer
"Nothing" will rise as readily to the lips of the reader as to those of
Theobald and Christina themselves.
A few days later the parents were gratified at receiving the following
letter from their son--
"My Dear Mamma,--I am very well. Dr Skinner made me do about the
horse free and exulting roaming in the wide fields in Latin verse, but
as I had done it with Papa I knew how to do it, and it was nearly all
right, and he put me in the fourth form under Mr Templer, and I have
to begin a new Latin grammar not like the old, but much harder. I
know you wish me to work, and I will try very hard. With best love to
Joey and Charlotte, and to Papa, I remain, your affectionate son,
ERNEST."
Nothing could be nicer or more proper. It really did seem as though he
were inclined to turn over a new leaf. The boys had all come back, the
examinations were over, and the routine of the half year began; Ernest
found that his fears about being kicked about and bullied were
exaggerated. Nobody did anything very dreadful to him. He had to run
errands between certain hours for the elder boys, and to take his turn at
greasing the footballs, and so forth, but there was an excellent spirit
in the school as regards bullying.
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