Mrs Merton remarked the anguish and confusion of her child, and catching him in her arms, was going to clasp him to her bosom, with the most endearing expressions, but Mr Merton, hastily interrupting her, said, "It is not now a time to give way to fondness for a child, who, I fear, has acted the basest and vilest part that can disgrace a human being, and who, if what I suspect be true, can be only a dishonour to his parents." At this, Tommy could no longer contain himself, but burst into such a violent transport of crying, that Mrs Merton, who seemed to feel the severity of Mr Merton's conduct with still more poignancy than her son, caught her darling up in her arms and carried him abruptly out of the room, accompanied by most of the ladies, who pitied Tommy's abasement, and agreed that there was no crime he could have been guilty of which was not amply atoned for by such charming sensibility. But Mr Merton, who now felt all the painful interest of a tender father, and considered this as the critical moment which was to give his son the impression of worth or baseness for life, was determined to examine this affair to the utmost. He, therefore, took the first opportunity of drawing the little boy aside who had mentioned Master Merton's striking Harry, and questioned him upon the subject. But he, who had no particular interest in disguising the truth, related the circumstances nearly as they had happened; and though he a little softened the matter in Tommy's favour, yet, without intending it, he held up such a picture of his violence and injustice, as wounded his father to the soul. CHAPTER VIII. Arrival of Mr Barlow--Story of Polemo--Tommy's repentance--Story of Sophron and Tigranes--Tommy as an Arabian Horseman--His Mishap--Tommy's intrepidity--The Poor Highlander's story--Tommy's Sorrow for his conduct to Harry--Conclusion of the Story of Sophron and Tigranes--Tommy's resolution to study nothing but "reason and philosophy"--Visits Harry and begs his forgiveness--The Grateful Black's Story--Tommy takes up his abode at Farmer Sandford's--The Grateful Black's account of himself--Mr Merton's visit to the Farm--The unexpected present--Conclusion. While Mr Merton was occupied by these uneasy feelings, he was agreeably surprised by a visit from Mr Barlow, who came accidentally to see him, with a perfect ignorance of all the great events which had so recently happened.