lad careful of his personal appearance, and
always anxious to appear neat and tidy. But the boy who expends all his
time and money in dressing himself, and to whom the rough clothes and
boots and the dirt associated with a game of football are distasteful,
is a fop, and a fop is the least attractive of all individuals.

This was what Frank was fast becoming. He was selfish and indolent, and
gave himself such airs that to a lad of Jack's breezy nature he was
perfectly intolerable. But Jack had promised his father to live
peacefully with him, and he kept his promise faithfully, only
disagreeing openly when Frank attempted to dictate to him or order him
about. Then there was invariably an angry scene, during which Jack
pointed out to his brother in plain, matter-of-fact terms that the
consequences might be painful if he persisted in trying to rule; and
Frank, remembering a struggle, now some years past, in which he had
decidedly come off the worse, usually contented himself with some
sarcastic remark, and went off to Mrs Somerton to tell her his
grievances. So that, altogether, life at Frampton Grange was not so
happy as it might have been, and Jack far preferred his school-days.
What he did enjoy, however, were the summer holidays, when, by mutual
consent, the family divided, and Jack and Captain Somerton went for a
trip on the Continent.

At school he was now a prefect, and a most popular boy, and thoroughly
appreciated his life. Though, like others of his age, he was looking
forward to the time when he would take some position in the world a
little more exalted than a school-boy's, he was yet in no hurry to say
"Goodbye!" Cricket and football and his comrades were strong
inducements to stay, and when at last the unexpected happened, and
misfortune burst like a bomb at his feet, he looked back at the old days
with a longing and regret which was never deeper in any boy's heart.

CHAPTER TWO.

GOOD-BYE TO HOME.

Jack Somerton was not given to low spirits; to mope and worry about
trifles was a foolish habit to which he had never yielded; but had he
done so one beautiful evening in May, a few days before his return to
school, he might very well have been excused, for matters had been
anything but pleasant.

To begin with, he and Frank had fallen out seriously, partly owing to
the latter's selfishness, and also partly, it must be owned, to Jack's
hot-headed impulsiveness, which always caused him to blurt out