unt Hannah. "Don't, don't,
pray, set the boy thinking about doing any more such dirty work."

"Dirty work? quite an artist's job. I only mentioned it because Mr
Syme told me that a man would be over from Lincoln to-morrow to see to
the clock. Quite time it was done."

Vane hurried off to escape his uncle's banter, and was soon after in the
lane leading up to the rectory, where, as luck had it, he saw Distin
walking slowly on in front, and, acting on the impulse of the moment, he
ran after him.

"Evening," he cried.

Distin turned his head slowly, and looked him coldly in the face.

"I beg your pardon," he drawled, "were you speaking to me?"

"Oh, hang it, Distie, yes," cried Vane. "What's the good of us two
being out. Shake hands. I'm sorry if I said anything to offend you and
hope you'll forgive me if there is anything to forgive."

Distin stared at him haughtily.

"Really," he said in rather a drawling manner, "I am at a loss to
understand what you mean by addressing me like this, sir."

"Oh, I say, Distie, don't take that queer tone to a fellow," cried Vane,
who could not help feeling nettled. "Here, shake hands--there's a good
fellow."

He held out his own once more for the other to take, but Distin ignored
it, and half turning away he said:--

"Have the goodness to address me next time when I have spoken to you. I
came down here to read with Mr Syme, and I shall go on doing so, but I
presume it is open to me to choose whom I please for my associates, and
I shall select gentlemen."

"Well," said Vane, shortly, "my father was a gentleman; and do you mean
to insinuate that my uncle and aunt are not a gentleman and lady?"

"I refuse to discuss matters with every working-class sort of boy I am
forced to encounter," said Distin, haughtily. "Have the goodness to
keep yourself to yourself, and to associate with people of your own
class. Good-evening."

"Have the goodness to associate with people of your own class!" said
Vane, unconsciously repeating his fellow-pupil's words. "I don't like
fighting, but, oh, how he did make my fingers itch to give him one good
solid punch in the head."

Vane stood looking at the retiring figure thoroughly nettled now.

"Ugh!" he exclaimed, "what a nasty mean temper to have. It isn't manly.
It's like a spiteful boarding-school girl. Well, I'm not going down on
my knees to him. I can get on without Distin if he can get on without
me. But it is so petty and m