Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

JOHN MARSTON. 49
CHAPTER V I II.
JOHN MARSTON.
CHARLES returned to his room, a little easier in his mind than
when he left it. Therg still remained one dreadful business to
get over- the worst of all; that of letting his father know.
Non-University men sneer at rustication; they can't see any
particular punishment in having to absent yourself from your
studies for a term or two. But do they think that the Dons don't
know what they are about? Why, nine spirited young fellows
out of ten would snap their fingers at rustication, if it was n't for
the home business. It is breaking the matter to the father, his
just anger, and his mother's still more bitter reproaches. It
must all come out, the why and the wherefore, without concealment or palliation. The college write a letter to justify themselves, and then a mine of deceit is sprung under the parents'
feet, and their eyes are opened to things they little dreamt of.
This, it appears, is not the first offence. The college has been
long-suffering, and has pardoned when it should have punished
repeatedly. The lad who was thought to be doing so well, has
been leading a dissipated, riotous life, and deceiving them all.
This is the bitterest blow they have ever had. How can they
ever trust him again? And so the wound takes long to heal, and
sometimes is never healed at all. That is the meaning of rustication.
A majority of young fellows at the University deceive their
parents, especially if they come of serious houses. It is almost
forced upon them sometimes, and in all. cases the temptation is
strong. It is very unwise to ask too many questions. Home
questions are, in some cases, unpardonable. A son can't tell a
father, as one man can tell another, to mind his own business.
No. The father asks the question suddenly, and the son lies,
perhaps for the first time in his life. If he told the truth his
father would knock him down.
Now Charles was a little better off'than most young fellows in
this respect. He knew his father would scold about the rustication, and still more at his being in debt. He was n't much afraid
of his fatheris anger. They two had always been too familiar to
be much afraid of one another. -He was much more afraid of the
sarcasms of MIackworth, and he not a little dreaded his brother;
but with regard to his father he felt but slight uneasiness.
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