“Don’t you think the child will be a hero in a very small way, when he makes himself run away from his temper?” “Not in a small way at all; the child will be a hero. But we cannot be heroes all the time. In sudden gusts of temptation, God grant him grace to play the hero, if only through hasty flight; but in what are called besetting sins, there is nothing safe but the contrary besetting good habit. And here is where parents have such infinite power over the future of their children.” “Don’t think me superstitious and stupid; but somehow this scientific training, good as I see it is, seems to me to undervalue the help we get from above in times of difficulty and temptation.” “Let me say that it is you who undervalue the virtue, and limit the scope of the Divine action. Whose are the laws Science labours to reveal? Whose are the works, body or brain, or what you like, upon which these laws act?” “How foolish of me! How one gets into a way of thinking that God cares only for what we call spiritual things. Let me ask you one more question. I do see that all this watchful training is necessary, and do not wish to be idle or cowardly about it. But don’t you think Guy would grow out of these violent tempers naturally, as he gets older?” “Well, he would not, as youth or man, fling himself on the ground and roar; but no doubt he would grow up touchy, fiery, open at any minute to a sudden storm of rage. The man who has too much self-respect for an open exhibition may, as you know well enough, poor wife, indulge in continual irritability, suffer himself to be annoyed by trifling matters. No, there is nothing for it but to look upon an irate habit as one to be displaced by a contrary habit. Who knows what cheerful days we may yet have, and whether in curing Guy I may not cure myself? The thing can be done; only one is so lazy about one’s own habits. Suppose you take me in hand?” “Oh, I couldn’t! and yet it’s your only fault, dear.” “Only fault! well, we’ll see. In the meantime there’s another thing I wish we could do for Guy--stop him in the midst of an outbreak. Do you remember the morning we found him admiring himself in the glass?” “Yes, with the photograph in his hand.” “That was it; perhaps the Cross-man race will answer even in the middle of a tempest. If not, we must try something else.” “It won’t work.” “Why not?” “Guy will have no more rages; how then can he be stopped in mid-tempest?” “Most hopeful of women! But don’t deceive yourself. Our work is only well begun, but that, let us hope, is half done.” * * * * * His father was right. Opportunities to check him in mid-career occurred; and Guy answered to the rein. Mr. Cross-man worked wonders. A record of outbreaks was kept; now a month intervened; two months; a year; two years; and at last his parents forgot their early troubles with their sweet-tempered, frank-natured boy. FOOTNOTES: