s you, it's quite a treat to be away from the smoke
and to see things all a-growing and a-blowing. Then I catches sight of
this bit of new fence, and that set me thinking of your school and you
two young gents; and for the moment I thought that I would go back, say
good-morning to the gentleman, and come round to the school and ask to
see you two. But then I said to myself, `Well, they are not their own
masters yet, and the Doctor mightn't be pleased to have a common sort of
fellow like me coming the visitor where I had no business,' and I says
to myself, `It might make it unpleasant for those two young fellows, and
so I won't go.' Then I thought I should like to catch sight of you both
again, for I took quite a fancy to you young gents. And here I am."

"Well," said Glyn, laughing, "we are glad to see you; eh, Singh?"

"Yes, of course. But hadn't you better get up, Mr Ramball? It seems
so queer for us to be standing talking to you and you sitting there,"
said Singh.

"Oh, I'm all right, bless you, my lad. It makes me think about my
Rajah."

"And me too. He's a grand beast."

"Isn't he, my lad? And the way he's been putting flesh on is wonderful.
I won't say he weighs a ton more than when you saw him last, but he's a
heap heavier than he was."

"But," cried Glyn mischievously, "his trunk's fine enough, only he's got
such a miserable little tail."

"You leave his tail alone," said Ramball, wagging his head. "What he's
got is his nature to."

"But I say, Mr Ramball," cried Singh merrily, "don't you want me to
come and ride him in your show?"

"Well, no, sir; you chucked your opportunity away. I have got a new
keeper now as fits exactly."

"What a pity!" said Glyn merrily.

"Well, that's what I thought, sir," said Ramball quite seriously, "when
the young gent threw away his chance. You know we are common sort of
people; but the money we earn sometimes ain't to be sneezed at. Why, of
course I ought to tell you. Who do you think I have got?"

"Oh, how should we know?" cried Glyn.

"Friend of yours, gentlemen, that come to my show when it was here and
wanted me to take him on."

"Friend of ours?" said Glyn.

"Yes; just after squire here had ridden Rajah. Said he was hard-up and
couldn't get anything to do, but that he could talk Ingyrubber tongue as
well as squire here. But I wouldn't have anything to do with him then,
for I didn't believe in him."

"Professor Barclay!" cried Glyn excitedl