“And you will not love Him any less as time goes on,” answered Uncle Fred, in the grave, kind way that Bertie liked so much. “And now, my little boy, I am going to take you home, and tell the Squire all about my naughty nephews.” Bertie looked rather disturbed. “I don’t want them to be punished. They did not mean to be unkind. They did not understand.” “Well, well, we will not talk of that any more. They were old enough to know better; but if it distresses you, they shall get off easily. Do you feel quite able to walk home now?” “Oh yes!” answered Bertie, getting up, but finding himself a little unsteady on his feet. However, with the help of Uncle Fred’s hand, he was able to get along quite easily, and his new friend talked so pleasantly and kindly to him all the way, that he enjoyed the walk very much, and was almost sorry when it was over. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XII. A PROJECT. WHEN Uncle Fred returned to his brother’s house, he went in search of his nephews, with the intention of speaking his mind to them pretty freely on the unmanliness of their treatment of little Bertie. But when he opened the schoolroom door, he was assailed by such a chorus of eager voices, that it was some time before he could “get a word in edgeways,” as the saying is. “Oh, Uncle Fred, how is Bertie now?” “Oh, Uncle Fred, we’re so awfully sorry!” “We really did not mean anything.” “We never guessed he’d care like that.” “We only meant it in fun, we never thought he’d think we should!” “Please, Uncle Fred, don’t be cross with them:” this from Phil, who had taken no active share in the matter. “They didn’t really know how frightened he is. I think I ought to be punished most, because I only laughed instead of taking Bertie’s part, and I knew much better than they did about him.” Uncle Fred looked into Phil’s bright, frank face with an approving glance. He liked the boy all the better for his honest confession of a fault. “That is right, my boy. Never try to shirk blame when you feel you have deserved it. Why did you not take Bertie’s part, then, when you understood so well how frightened it made him to be on the water?” Phil hung his head for a moment, but he looked up bravely again the next, and in spite of the gravity of his face there was a merry sparkle in his bright blue eyes. “It was not at all nice of me, Uncle Fred, but I _couldn’t_ help enjoying it. Bertie did cut away so fast, and kicked and struggled so hard, and seemed in such a passion—I suppose it was fright really, but it looked like a jolly big rage, and he made me laugh, and when I once begin to laugh, it’s all over with me;” Phil glanced up roguishly at his uncle, and then dropped his eyes and added, with genuine penitence, “But I was awfully sorry when I saw that Bertie was really hurt. It hasn’t done him any harm, has it?”