; but do please ask the governor to take me,
sir."

"Leave the room, sir!" cried Jack, starting to his feet.

"Certainly, sir, but if you would--"

_Whish_!--_Bang_!--_Jingle_!

In a fit of petulant anger Jack had followed the man's suggestion,
caught up a heavy Greek lexicon, and thrown it with all his might, or
rather with all his weakness, at the servant's head. Edward ducked
down, and the book went through the glass of one of the cases; and at
the same moment Sir John Meadows entered the library.

CHAPTER FOUR.

A READY-MADE MAN.

"What's the meaning of this?" cried Sir John angrily, as he stood
staring in astonishment at his son's anger-distorted, flushed face, then
at the footman, and back at his son.

"I--I--this fellow--this man--Edward was insolent, and--and--I--father--
I--ordered him--to leave the room--and--and he would not go."

"Oh, I beg pardon, Master Jack, sir," said Edward reproachfully. "I
said I'd go, and I was going."

"Silence, sir!" cried Sir John, frowning. "Now, Jack, he would not go?"

"I was angry, father--and--and--"

"And you threw this book at him, and broke the pane of glass?"

"Yes, father," said the boy, who was now scarlet, as he stood trembling
with excitement and mortification.

"Humph!" ejaculated Sir John, crossing to raise the very short skirt of
his brown velveteen Norfolk jacket, and stand with his hands behind him
in front of the fire. "Pick up that book, Edward."

"Yes, Sir John."

"And tell one of the housemaids to come and sweep up the pieces."

"Yes, Sir John," said the man, moving toward the door.

"Stop! What does that signal to Mr Jack mean?"

"Well, Sir John, I--"

"Wait a minute. Now, Jack, in what way was Edward insolent to you?"

"Only laughed, Sir John."

"Be silent, sir! Now, Jack!"

"He irritated me, father," said the lad hastily. "He came to worry me
with an absurd request, and--and when I ridiculed it, he burst out
laughing in a rude, insolent way."

"Beg pardon, Sir John," said the man respectfully.--"Not insolent,
Master Jack."

"Say Mr Jack."

"Certn'y, Sir John. _Mister_ Jack actually made a joke,--it wasn't a
good one, Sir John, but it seemed so rum for him to make a joke, and
then get in a passion, that I bust out larfin, Sir John, and I couldn't
help it really."

Sir John looked wonderingly at his son for an explanation.

"It was only a bit of petulant nonsense, father," stammered the lad.
"I'm very sorry.