ough the din that was shaking the very pic

irst to hear his sister. 'We're in a state of mut

mmand of the Bunk-hooray!' Alick, his face flushed with triumph, his eyes dancing with wicked mischief, executed

ear of Cap

eds of whi

the Spa

any men we

looking calmly at her excited brothers, and her voice, so evenly modulated and gentle, had an instantaneous effect. The dreadful din and noisy danc

him?' suspiciously asked Geo

game, I tell you, the cowar

said Theo. 'It isn't usually the fashion among brave men fo

only a girl, was perfectly right. It had been an unfair, uneven conflict. Theo put her finger on the blot

uld not allow himse

g at Theo. 'He's an oppressor, that's what he is! But I'll soon let him see; I'll pitch

inflamed countenance of her brother. 'That is,' she continued, 'not unle

hink you can do most things, but you won't bend us to that!' Rub-a-dub on the dining-t

before. 'Come to the tea-house, and tell me exactly what the

deavouring to make the best of their case in her eyes. They were genuinely fond of their elder sister; principally, it may have been, because she never scolded or flouted them, however badly they b

ked, bewildered by the two angry voices

ct it, and Alick triumphantly went on, 'You see, Theo, this is how it all began. We asked Price, civilly enough, this morning to allow us a whol

ad heard of the wanderer

, and he is bound to make a living somehow. Jerry told Ned Dempster that he was going to Brattlesby Woods all day Wednesday to seek for young bullf

y sympathised with all the boys' pleasures an

xtra; and he hammered away about his responsibilities as he has the cheek to call us. Now, I ask you, wasn't that enough to ma

do know I should not have insulted a gentleman. Another thing'-Theo skilfully reserved her best shot for the last

had gone home, and his face took on a look of hot shame.

ke yourself and your doll-people tidy for dinner.' Queenie obediently trotted off to the house, and the speaker continued. 'What's all t

me, and Jerry got a frost-bite all through his own carelessness-he admits that. His right hand and arm above the elbow had to be taken off. Oh, you needn't shudder, Theo; a man can't both venture and go scot-free. When the expedition came back they gave Jerry the sack-turned him off, you know. So he

ches with a queer little musical instrument, a bird organ it is called. The notes are as like their own as they can possibly be, Jer

ng for him?' asked Theo wonderingly. For the moment she, too, had forgot

you. And oh, Theo, listen, we are going to have a trained finch, Alick and I. We're going to save up, and Jerry has promi

an, low trick of Price to refuse us leave to go with Jerry?' He w

to take advantage of father's preoccupation to give you such holidays as you have no right to have. Already they say your work is far too light, and I know Mr. Vesey has again and again urged father to send you both to a public school. When the book is done, and sent to the publish

say, 'Oh, you're coming round to ou

it would have been such a pleasure to you, think what it would have been to

For the second time the novel idea of how irksome he and Geoff must be to thei

ely, 'you boys must remember that the Bible tells

He was already bitterly ashamed of his morning's exploit, and ten

nough. So could many. But human nature is, for the most part, made up of Alicks as well as Geoffs-of boys who wilfully choose

gentlemen, in the true sense of the word, by frankly begging Mr. Price's pardon, when he comes to-morrow, for y

e voices from a belated, heavy-laden fishing-boat stole across the water in shout

ock, or, to put it in another way, as Christians who have given offence, and know that there i

ht, and his face was pale and se

w a gloomy scowl deepened, and his eyes refused to meet t