ce.

"Grandfather, I shall be glad to apologize to Miss Grey, and to my
country, and to the flag, but is it necessary for me to apologize to
Aleck Sands?"

Colonel Butler swung around in his swivel-chair, and faced the boy
almost savagely:

"Do you presume, sir," he exclaimed, "to dictate the conditions of
your pardon? I have fixed the terms. They shall be complied with to
the letter--to the letter, sir. And if you refuse to abide by them you
will be required to withdraw to the home of your maternal grandfather,
where, I have no doubt, your conduct will be disregarded if not
approved. But I will not harbor, under the roof of Bannerhall, a
person who has been guilty of such disloyalty as yours, and who
declines to apologize for his offense."

Having delivered himself of this ultimatum, the colonel again turned
to his writing-desk and proceeded to prepare his letter to Miss Grey.
Apparently it did not occur to him that his demand, thus definitely
made, might still be refused.

After what seemed to Pen to be an interminable time, his grandfather
ceased writing, laid aside his pen, and turned toward him holding a
written sheet from which he read:

"Bannerhall, Chestnut Hill, Pa.
February 22.

"_My dear Miss Grey:_

"It is with the deepest regret that I have to advise you that my
grandson, Penfield Butler, on Saturday last, by his own
confession, dishonored the colors belonging to your school, and
made certain derogatory remarks concerning his country and his
flag, for which offenses he desires now to make reparation. Will
you therefore kindly permit him, at the first possible
opportunity, to apologize for his reprehensible conduct, publicly,
to his teacher, to his country and to his flag, and especially to
Master Alexander Sands, the bearer of the flag, who, though not
without fault in the matter, was, nevertheless, at the time,
under the protection of the colors.

"Master Butler will report to me the fulfillment of this request.
With personal regards and apologies, I remain,

"Your obedient servant,
"Richard Butler."

He folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, and handed it to Pen.

"You will deliver this to Miss Grey," he said, "on your arrival at
school to-morrow morning. That is all to-night. You may retire."

Pen took the letter, thanked his grandfather, bade him good-night,
turned and went out into