no occasion to say anything for a day or two beyond the
fact that you are obliged to go home suddenly. I shall only say Clinton,
but it will naturally be supposed that I mean both of you. If it gets
out that you have gone alone, which it may do, although I shall give
strict orders to the contrary, I shall of course mention that we fear
that your brother got his head hurt in that football match, and that he
has taken up some strange ideas and has gone off. But it is hardly
likely that the matter will leak out in any way until you return, or I
hear from you. I think you can make yourself quite easy on that score."

It was half-past eleven when Rupert Clinton reached home. On the way he
had thought over how he had best break the news quietly to his father,
and he got out of the trap that had driven him from the station at the
lodge, and made a long circuit so as to reach the stable without being
seen from the front windows of the house. He went at once to the old
coachman, who was a great ally of the boys. The man uttered an
exclamation of astonishment at seeing him.

"Why, Master Rupert, I thought that you were not coming home for another
fortnight. Well, you have given me a start!"

"Look here, Fellows, I have come to see my father about a serious
matter, and I want to see him before I see my mother."

"Nothing the matter with Master Edgar, I hope, sir?"

"Yes, it is about him; but I will tell you presently, Fellows, I don't
want to lose a minute now. Please go into the house and get my father to
come out at once to the stables. Make any excuse you like to bring him
out, and as you come along you can tell him I am here."

In five minutes Captain Clinton hurried into the saddle-room, where
Rupert was standing. He was pale and agitated.

"What is the matter, Rupert,--has anything happened to Edgar? I know
that it must be something very serious or you would never come like
this."

"It is serious, father, very serious;" and he told him what had
happened, and handed him the letter that Edgar had left. "You see he has
evidently gone out of his mind, father."

Captain Clinton ran his eye over the letter and gave an exclamation of
surprise and grief, then he stood for a minute covering his face with
his hand. When he removed it Rupert saw that his eyes were filled with
tears. "Poor boy!" he murmured, "I see that we have made a terrible
mistake, although we did it for the best."

"A mistake, father! Why, is it possible