out some of
its contents ready to make place for something else.

"Why, hallo! There you are, then!" Singh started as sharply as if he
had received a slap on the shoulder, scrambled up something long tied up
in brown paper that lay by his side, thrust it into the trunk, and began
to cover it quickly with some of the articles that had been taken out.

"Ha, ha! Caught you!" cried Glyn. "What have you got there? Cakes or
a box of sweets?"

"Neither," said Singh rather slowly.

"Oh, all right, I don't want to know," cried Glyn good-humouredly. "But
I know: you mean a surprise--a tuck-out to-night when we come to bed.
Who are you going to ask?"

"No one," said Singh shortly.

"Oh, I would. Ask Burney and Miller. They're good chaps, only Slegge
keeps them under his thumb so. They'd give anything to break away, I
know."

Singh was silent.

"Here, I say," cried Glyn, "I tell you what would be a rare good bit of
fun, and if the Doctor knew he wouldn't notice it. Let's get about a
dozen of the little chaps some night, Burton and Robson, the small
juniors, and give them a regular good feed quite late. They would enjoy
it. What do you say?"

"Yes," said Singh; "to be sure we will."

"I say," said Glyn, "I'd have come with you if you had asked me this
afternoon. What a close old chap you are! Where have you been? Here,
I'm going to see what you have got there."

"No, no!" cried Singh excitedly, as Glyn stepped forward, only meaning
it as a feint; and the boy threw himself across the open box, to begin
scrambling the dislodged things over the something that was loosely
covered with brown paper, and in his hurry and excitement, instead of
hiding it thoroughly, exposing one small corner. But it was quite big
enough to let Glyn see what it was; and, laughing aloud, he cried:

"Why, what a coward you are! I was only pretending."

Singh hurriedly closed the lid of the trunk.

"Where have you been?"

Singh was silent for a moment, for a struggle was going on in his mind.

"I have been out for a walk with Mr Morris," he said.

"Well, there's no harm in that," said Glyn. "Where did you go? Across
the park, or down by the river?"

Singh was silent for a moment or two once more, and then in a hurried
way he seemed to master his reserve, and said:

"We didn't go regularly for a walk. We went to see Professor Barclay."

"Mr Morris took you to see Professor Barclay?" said Glyn.

"Yes, yes; but I wish