t, whatever might befall them. Your mother, of
course, agreed with me in theory; but while she admitted that Edgar
would never if in his senses do such a thing, urged that his distress
might be so great that he would not be responsible for what he was
doing. Happily this morbid idea has been dissipated by the arrival of
the letter, and I have great hopes now that she will rouse herself, and
will shake off the state of silent brooding which has been causing me so
much anxiety. It was but this morning that we received the letter, and
already she looks brighter and more like herself than she has done since
you brought us the news of Edgar's disappearance."

This news enabled Rupert to enjoy the remainder of the holidays much
more than he had done the first fortnight. He and Edgar had both been
accustomed to ride since they had been children, and had in their
Christmas holidays for years accompanied their father to the hunting
field, at first upon ponies, but the previous winter on two light-weight
carrying horses he had bought specially for them. Mr. Easton had several
hunters, and Rupert, who was well mounted, thoroughly enjoyed the
hunting, and returned to school with his nerves braced up, ready for
work.

"I won't say anything against Easton again," Skinner said when he heard
from Rupert how pleasant his holidays had been made for him. "I noticed
how he took to you and made things smooth for you the last ten days of
the term, and I fully meant to tell him that I was sorry I had not
understood him better before; only, in the first place, I never happened
to have a good opportunity, and in the second place I don't know that I
ever tried to make one. However, I shall tell him now. It is not a
pleasant thing to be obliged to own that you have behaved badly, but it
is a good deal more unpleasant to feel it and not have the pluck to say
so."

Accordingly the next time Easton came into the senior study, Skinner
went up to him and said:

"Easton, I want to tell you that I am uncommonly sorry that I have set
myself against you because you have been more particular about your
dress and things than the rest of us, and because you did not seem as
keen as we were about football and things. I know that I have behaved
like an ass, and I should like to be friends now if you will let me."

"Certainly I will, Skinner," Easton said, taking the hand he held out.
"I don't know that it was altogether your fault. My people at home are
r