ld outstrip them. At the same time
they began to discover that he was a thoroughly good fellow and to
wonder how on earth they had been so mistaken in him before. From
being something of an outcast he now became a favourite, asserting, for
the first time, the full advantage of his physical maturity.

Considine was quick to take advantage of the change. He had always
been tempted by the idea of examination successes, and although he
realised the disadvantage with which Arthur, in his renaissance, was
starting, he saw no reason why the boy should not eventually do him
credit in some public competition. There should be no difficulty for
example, in getting him into Sandhurst ... or, perhaps, Woolwich, as
his new aptitude for mathematics suggested. He wrote at length to Mrs.
Payne, discussing these possibilities. This was his quiet and
considered way of revealing to her his success.

Mrs. Payne, whose glimpses of the new Arthur in the Christmas holidays
had buoyed her with hopes in which she dared not place too much faith,
replied to his letter in a fever of excitement. Was it really possible
to think of such a career? Was there now no fear that if Arthur went
to Woolwich or Sandhurst something terrible might happen? Of course,
seeing what he had done already, she was prepared to trust Dr.
Considine's judgment in everything; but in any case, if the future that
he suggested were remotely possible, she would very much rather that
Arthur should not go into the army. One of their neighbours had lately
been killed in the Boer War.

Her letter paved the way for Considine's triumph. He wrote and told
her that he thought he could now safely say that there was nothing at
all abnormal about her son. He did not wish to take undue credit for
the revolutionary change in Arthur's disposition, but could not help
feeling that the boy was a credit to the Lapton regime. Seeing that
Arthur was her only son he could quite understand her objection to his
adopting the hazardous calling of a soldier. As an alternative he now
suggested the Civil Service. Arthur's money--if he might descend to
such a practical consideration--would be extremely useful to him if he
served under the Foreign Office. Of course he could not promise
success, but under the new conditions he thought it worth while trying
to prepare Arthur for one of the examinations. Mrs. Payne consented.
She only hoped that Considine had not been deceived.

Arthur did