‘By bits you are, my boy,’ she said; ’you are much less fractious now than you used to be, only you could not stand this out-of-the-way trial.’

Alfred groaned.

‘Do you remember what our Saviour said to St. Peter?’ said his mother; ’"Whither I go thou canst not follow Me now, but thou shalt follow Me afterwards.”  You see, St. Peter couldn’t bear his cross then, but he went on doing his best, and grieving when he failed, and by-and-by he did bear it almost like his Master.  He got to be made strong out of weakness.’

There was some comfort to Alfred in this; but he feared, and yet longed, to see Mr. Cope, and when he came, had scarcely answered his questions as to how he felt, before he said, ’O Sir, I’ve been a bad boy again, and so cross to them all!’

‘O Sir,’ said Ellen, who could not bear for him to blame himself, ’I’m sure it was no wonder—­he’s so distracted with the pain, and Harold getting idling, and forgetting to bring him the ointment.  Why, even that vagabond boy was so shocked, that he went all the way to Elbury that very night for it.  I told Alfred you’d tell him that anybody would be put out, and nobody would think of minding what he said.’

‘Nobody, especially so kind a sister,’ said Mr. Cope, smiling; ’but that is not what Alfred is thinking of.’

‘No, Sir,’ said Alfred; ’their being so good to me makes it all the worse.’

‘I quite believe so; and you are very much disappointed in yourself.’

’Oh yes, Sir, just when I wanted to be getting patient, and more like—­’ and his eyes turned to the little picture, and filled with tears.

Mr. Cope said somewhat of what his mother had said that he was but a scholar in patience, and that he must take courage, though he had slipped, and pray for new strengthening and refreshing to go on in the path of pain his Lord had hallowed for him.

Perhaps the words reminded Alfred of the part of the Catechism where they occur, for he said, ’Oh, I wish I was confirmed!  If I could but take the Holy Sacrament, to make me stronger, and sure of being forgiven—­’

‘You shall—­before—­’ said Mr. Cope, speaking eagerly, but becoming choked as he went on.  ’You are one whom the Church would own as ready and desirous to come, though you cannot be confirmed.  You should at once—­but you see I am not yet a priest; I have not the power to administer the Holy Communion; but I trust I shall be one in the spring, and then, Alfred—­Or if you should be worse, I promise you that I would bring some one here.  You shall not go without the Bread of Life.’

Alfred felt what he said to the depths of his heart, but he could not say anything but ‘Thank you, Sir.’

Mr. Cope, still much moved, laid his hand upon that of the boy.  ’So, Alfred, we prepare together.  As I hope and long to prepare myself to have that great charge committed to me, which our Saviour Christ gave to His Apostles; so you prepare for the receiving of that Bread and that Cup which will more fully unite you to Him, and join your suffering to what He bore for you.’