n't get here till
nearly six, because Josh is going to have tea with me."

"Look here, both of you come up and have tea with me. Mrs Drinkwater
shall put two extra cups."

"Mean it?" cried Will.

"Mean it?" said the bluff artist. "Why, of course!"

The next minute the boys were walking down together towards the mill.

"Say, Josh," said Will, thoughtfully, "he isn't such a bad fellow, after
all."

"No," said josh, dubiously, "but he's an awful weight."

CHAPTER FOUR.

LOST ON THE TOR.

"Well, go and ask Mr Manners to come up, then," said Mr Willows, one
morning a few days later, as Will and Josh stood waiting; "that is," he
went on, "if you really think that he would like to come. I should be
very pleased to see him. But don't worry the man."

"Oh, I'm sure he would, father," said Will; "wouldn't he, Josh?"

"Yes," said Josh, quickly. "I know he's been wanting to see the place."

"He's thrown out hints," said Will.

"Oh, has he?" said the mill-owner, with a smile. "Thrown out hints, eh?
Well, I shall be delighted to see him. But I thought you two chaps
were not on very good terms with him."

"Oh yes, father; it's all right now. Of course we thought that he was
only a painter, but he is really a splendid chap. Come on, Josh; we'll
get him to come up now."

"Only a painter," said Mr Willows, with a laugh, as he looked after
them.

The two lads started for the cottage where the artist, who was making
picture after picture of the neighbourhood, took his meals--when, that
is, he did not picnic in the open, which was fairly frequently--and
where he slept--and one could sleep in that crisp mountain air.

"No, my dears," said Mrs Drinkwater, who had come down to the little
white gate to speak to them, "Mr Manners is out, I am very sorry."

"Oh!" said Will.

"Where's he gone?" asked Josh.

"He went off very early this morning, sir," said the woman. "He told me
to cut him some sandwiches. He said that I would be away all day, as he
was going as far as the Tor."

"And never asked us!" cried Josh. "What a jolly shame!"

"Humph! It is a pity," said Will, and he turned away. "I say, why
shouldn't we go after him?"

"Perhaps he doesn't want us."

"Nonsense!" said Will.

"Then let's go. I'm willing, only I thought you would say that it was
too far."

"It's you that would say that."

"Bosh!" said Josh.

"Go on. Be funny. Bosh, Josh! That's a joke, I suppose."

"Oh, all right;