S.S., and nobody knows what
else. He and I have bagged Sykes' old room, just over here."

Railsford in his shirt-sleeves, and hemmed round by his luggage, looked
up rather blankly at this friendly oration. However, his dignity came
to his rescue.

"How are you both? I hope we're to have a good steady term, my boys.
Go to your study now--later on we must have a talk."

Arthur looked at his friend and winked; Sir Digby was visibly agitated,
and grinned vehemently at a cobweb in the corner of the ceiling.

"All serene," said the former. "By the way, Daisy was all right when I
left her, and sent her love and a--"

"Do you hear me, Arthur? Go to your study."

"Oh, all right--but there was a message from the gov. I was to be sure
and give you directly I saw you. He says I can have a bob a week
pocket-money, and you're to give it to me, and he'll owe it to you at
the end of the term. I'd like the first now, please."

"Go immediately to your room," shouted Railsford, as near to losing his
temper as his future brother-in-law had ever seen him. "How dare you
disobey me?"

"Well, but it was a message from the gov., and--I say, Dig," added he,
turning to his friend with a nudge, "you cut when Mark tells you."

Dig departed, and Railsford weakly fell in with the arrangement of the
junior, and allowed him to remain and deliver the rest of his domestic
messages.

"Now, look here, Arthur," said the master, closing the door and facing
his unabashed future kinsman, "we must come to an understanding at once.
During term time I forbid you to mention Daisy's name, either to me or
anybody else, unless I wish it--"

The boy whistled. "What, have you had a row, then? Is it all broken
off? My eye, what will--"

"Rubbish!" said Mark, scarcely able to keep grave; "it's neither one nor
the other. But I don't choose you should talk of her, and I insist on
being obeyed."

"Jolly rough not to be able to talk about one's own sister!" interposed
the innocent.

"Of course, I mean not in connection with me," said Railsford. "And
another thing, you must not call me Mark, but Mr Railsford, while term
lasts."

"All serene, Mr Railsford, old man! Jolly stiff, though, between
brothers, isn't it?"

"You must treat me as if I were merely your master, and no other
relative."

"How queer! Mayn't I even be fond of you?"

"Yes, as your master. I count on you, mind, to set a specially good
example to the other boys, and back