ns now. I hope
you're satisfied, I'm sure. Do you think you'll care about going back to
Crichton House in that state?"

"No," said Dick, very decidedly: "I'm quite sure I shouldn't."

"Well, I can't help it. You've brought it on yourself; and, provided the
Doctor sees no objection to take you back as you are and receive you as
one of his pupils, I shall most certainly send you there."

Paul did not really mean this, he only meant to frighten him; for he
still trusted that, by letting Boaler into the secret, the charm might
be set in motion once more, and the difficulty comfortably overcome. But
his threat had a most unfortunate effect upon Dick; it hardened him to
take a course he might otherwise have shrunk from.

"Oh," he said, "you're going to do that? But doesn't it strike you that
things are rather altered with us now?"

"They are, to a certain extent, of course," said Paul, "through my folly
and your wicked cunning; but a word or two of explanation from me----"

"You'll find it will take more explanation than you think," said Dick;
"but, of course, you can try, if you think it worth while--when you get
to Grimstone's."

"When I,--I don't understand. When I,--what did you say?" gasped Paul.

"Why, you see," exclaimed Dick, "it would never have done for us both to
go back; the chaps would have humbugged us so, and as I hate the place
and you seem so fond of being a boy and going back to school and that, I
thought perhaps it would be best for you to go and see how you liked
it!"

"I never will! I'll not stir from this room! I dare you to try to move
me!" cried Paul. And just then there was the sound of wheels outside
once more. They stopped before the house, the bell rang sharply--the
long-expected cab had come at last.

"You've no time to lose," said Dick, "get your coat on."

Mr. Bultitude tried to treat the affair as a joke. He laughed a ghastly
little laugh.

"Ha! ha! you've fairly caught your poor father this time; you've proved
him in the wrong. I admit I said more than I exactly meant. But that's
enough. Don't drive a good joke too far; shake hands, and let us see if
we can't find a way out of this!"

But Dick only warmed his coat tails at the fire as he said, with a very
ungenerous reminiscence of his father's manner: "You are going back to
an excellent establishment, where you will enjoy all the comforts of
home--I can specially recommend the stickjaw; look out for it on
Tuesdays and Fridays.