TY SEVEN.

A LITTLE VICTIM.

That same evening Singh went down the town to relieve his feelings and
the heaviness of one of his pockets, for the day before both he and Glyn
had received letters from the Colonel with their monthly allowance.
Glyn had refused to join his companion, to Singh's great annoyance, for
the occurrences of the day had left him touchy and ready to take offence
at anything.

"I wouldn't have refused to go with you," he said. "It's precious
disagreeable, and you might come."

"Can't," said Glyn firmly. "I can't come, and you know why."

"Oh yes, I know why; all out of disagreeableness. You haven't got any
other reason."

"Yes, I have. You haven't written to father, have you, to thank him for
what you got?"

"No; I am going to write to-morrow."

"And then when to-morrow comes you'll say the same, and the same next
day. There never was such a fellow for putting off things."

"Well, you needn't talk," cried Singh. "You haven't written to the
Colonel to say you have got yours."

"No," said Glyn firmly; "but I am going to write this evening."

"No, you are not. Come on down town with me. I want to go to the old
shop. Do come, there's a good chap! I hate going alone."

"Why?"

"Because if I go alone I always see so many things I want to buy, and
then I go on buying, and my allowance doesn't last out till next time."

"Nonsense! What difference would it make if I came with you? You'd be
just as bad," cried Glyn.

"Oh no, I shouldn't. When you are with me you always keep on
interfering and stopping me; and then the money lasts out twice as
well."

"Well, look here," said Glyn; "wait till I have written my letter, and I
will make it a short one this time, and go with you afterwards."

"Oh, you are a disagreeable one! There won't be time then, and it will
be too late for going out. There, you see if I ask you to go again."

Uttering these words in his snappiest way, Singh whisked himself round
and stalked off.

"Can't help it," said Glyn to himself. "I will get it done, and then go
and meet him. He'll soon cool down, and there will be time enough to go
to the shop and get back before supper."

But, all the same, Glyn uttered a low sigh as he thrust his hands into
his pockets, to jingle in one the four keys that made his bunch, and in
the other several coins which formed the half of the Colonel's previous
day's cheque.

The keys felt light in his right hand and the