But Mr. Bright was very anxious about “Dodd” Weaver.  When he came to reflect, he was glad that he had not met him while in pursuit of him.  Yet the question remained, what should be done when they did meet?  He thought about this, deep down in his soul, all the rest of the morning.  When noon came he was as much as ever at a loss how to proceed.  One of the worst features of the case, as he thought about it, was this:  “Dodd” had been going to school to him now a year and a half, and he had begun to think that he had a permanent hold upon the boy.  But here it was again, back in the same old notch, and as bad as ever.  It does take so long to make anything permanent in the way of character!  You have found it so yourself, haven’t you, beloved?  In your own case, I mean.

But on his way home to dinner Mr. Bright saw Mrs. Weaver out in the yard, and remembering how much a mother may sometimes do for her son, he went over and took her into counsel on the case.  The machine would not have done this either.

It is a rule of the mill not to consult with parents.  If parents wish consultation, let them talk to a stack of examination papers, or a record-book.  This will soon cure them of their desire to consult.

Mrs. Weaver heard Mr. Bright’s statement with tear-filled eyes.  She had seen “Dodd” improve in every line of his life, for some months, and had begun to form bright plans for the future of her redeemed first-born.  But, alas! here seemed to be the end of all her hopes.  However, she tried to apologize for her son, and, in any event, she begged Mr. Bright not to give “Dodd” up yet.  But the master shook his head gravely.

“And another thing,” pursued Mrs. Weaver, “I think it will be best not to let ‘Dodd’s’ father know anything about this.  He is such a passionate man that I am sure he would fly into a rage and attempt to beat the boy if he should find it out.  And he and ‘Dodd’ are so much alike!  If they should get into a quarrel, I fear that one might kill the other before they could be parted.”

Yet these persons were father and son, and one of them was a successful minister and a devout man—­most of the time,

“You see,” Mrs. Weaver continued, “that my husband has such a high opinion of you as a man, and he knows that you have done so much for ‘Dodd,’ that if he should find out how abominably the boy has treated you, he would be ten times more angry than ever.  So let us keep the matter to ourselves, if possible.  I will see ‘Dodd’ as soon as he comes home, and will try what I can do.  And if prayer, or—­”

“There, there,” broke in Mr. Bright, quietly, as the brimming eyes of the woman before him began to overflow, “do what you can with the boy, and I will not give him up till I have to;” and so saying, he went on to dinner.

But in a country town news travels fast.  As soon as school was out at noon, three-score tongues were busy retailing the mild scandal to attentive listeners, whenever met.