Implicit obedience had been enjoined upon the Halliburtons from their earliest childhood. In that manufactory Mr. Ashley was William's _master_, and he believed he had no resource but to comply with his desire. William was of a remarkably ingenuous nature; and if he had to impart a thing, he did not do it by halves, although it might tell against himself. "When I found that shilling this morning, sir, the thought came over me to wish it was mine--to wish that I might take it without doing ill. The thought did not come over me _to take it_," he added, raising his truthful eyes to Mr. Ashley's, "only to wish that it was not wrong to do so. When you looked at me so earnestly, sir, I fancied you could see what my thoughts had been. And they were not honourable thoughts." "Did you ever take money that was not yours?" asked Mr. Ashley, after a pause. William looked surprised. "No, sir, never." Mr. Ashley paused again. "I have known children help themselves to halfpence and pence, and think it little crime." The boy shook his head. "We have been taught better than that, sir. And, besides the crime, money taken in that way would bring us no good, only trouble. It could not prosper." "Tell me why you think that." "My mother has always taught us that a bad action can never prosper in the end." "I suppose you coveted the shilling for marbles; or for sweetmeats?" "Oh no, sir. It was not for myself that I wished it." "Then for whom? For what?" This caused William's face to flush again. Mr. Ashley questioned till he drew from him the particulars--how that he had wished to buy some tea, and why he had wished it. "I have heard," remarked Mr. Ashley, after listening, "that you have many privations to put up with." "It is true, sir. But we don't so much care for them if we only _can_ put up with them. My mother says she knows better days will be in store for us, if we only bear on patiently. I am sure we boys ought to do so, if she can. It is worse for her than for us." There ensued another searching question from Mr. Ashley. "Have you ever, when alone in the egg-house, amidst its thousands of eggs, been tempted to pocket a few to carry home?" For one moment William suffered a flash of resentment to cross his countenance. The next his eyes filled with tears. He felt deeply hurt. "No, sir, I have not. I hope you do not fear that I am capable of it?" "No, I do not," said Mr. Ashley. "Your father was a clergyman, I think I have heard?" "He was intended for a clergyman, sir, but he did not get to the University. His father was a clergyman--a rector in Devonshire, and my mother's father was a clergyman in London. My uncle Francis is also a clergyman, but only a curate. We are gentlepeople, though we are poor. We would not take eggs or anything else." Mr. Ashley suppressed a smile. "I conclude that you and your brothers live in hope some time of regaining your position in life?"