THE PARCEL. 281 



" What I have done for him," he added, " little as it is, 

 he knows and appreciates, and so he is grateful for it. But 

 his mother has perhaps not done much to win his affec- 

 tions of late years. It is very likely that, since he was old 

 enough to be put under the charge of a bonne, she has not 

 had much to do with him except to watch him and check 

 him when he is doing any thing wrong, and he has not the 

 least idea how much she must have done and suffered for 

 him before that time. What he wants is light. When lie 

 grows older, and understands how much he owes his moth- 

 er, it is very probable that he will be grateful for it all, and 

 he may then become a great comfort to her. I am sure I 

 hope he will." 



" I wonder what the present is that he has brought for 

 you !" said John. "Let's open it now." 



" No," replied Lawrence ; " I was not to open it till we 

 got home." 



Here John took lip the parcel and began to feel of it, in 

 hopes of being able to ascertain in that way what it was. 



"I thought it was books," said he, "but it is some kind 

 of box a pasteboard box. I wonder what is in it ! If I 

 were you, I would open it now and see." 



" I was not to open it until we got home," said Law- 

 rence. 



" You did not promise him that you would not," replied 

 John. 



" No," rejoined Lawrence, " I did not promise in words, 

 but I received the package on that implied condition." 



" He would not care," said John. " All he wanted was 

 that you should not open it while he was by. I don't see 

 what possible harm it could do for you to open it now." 



" I do," said Lawrence. 



" What harm ?" asked John. 



" Guess," said Lawrence. 



