Page:Hornung - Fathers of Men.djvu/125

 are tied. They always are where poor Rutter is concerned. It was the same thing with Haigh over his Latin verses. He wanted me to write to the boy's preparatory school-master! I haven't interceded with him since. Rutter's the one boy in my house I can't stick up for. He must sink or swim for himself, and I think he's going to swim; if he were in any other form I should be sure. But I simply daren't hold out the helping hand that one would to others."

Miss Heriot gave an understanding nod.

"I've often heard you say you can't treat two boys alike. Now I see what you mean."

"But I can't treat Rutter as I ever treated any boy before. I've got to keep my treatment to myself. I mustn't make him conscious, if I know it; that applies to them all, of course, but it would make this boy suspicious in a minute. He puts me on my mettle, I can tell you! I'm not sure that he isn't putting the whole public-school system on its trial!"

"That one boy, Bob?"

"They all do, of course. They're all our judges in the end. But this one is such a nut to crack, and yet there's such a kernel somewhere! I stake my place on that. The boy has more character even than I thought."

"Although he sulks?"

"That's often a sign. It means at least the courage of one's mood. But what you and I know, and have not got to forget, is that his whole point of view is probably different from that of any fellow who ever went through the school."

"As a straw plucked from the stables?" laughed Miss Heriot under her breath.

"Hush, Milly, for heaven's sake! No. I was thinking