on't let me feel
uncomfortable when the Alderman, your respected father, sends me his
customary cheque, and make me say to myself, `We have not earned this
honourably and well.'"

The rector nodded to all in turn, and went out first, while, as books
were being put together, Macey said sharply:--

"Here, Vane; I'm going to walk home with you. Come on!"

Vane glanced at Distin, who stood by the table with his eyes
half-closed, and his hand resting upon the dictionary he had turned into
a missile.

"He's waiting to hear what I say," thought Vane, quickly. Then
aloud:--"All right, then, you shall. I see through you, though. You
want to be asked to lunch on the toadstools."

In spite of himself, Vane could not help stealing another glance at
Distin, and read in the contempt which curled his upper lip that he was
accusing him mentally of being a coward, and eager to sneak away.

"Well, let him," he thought. "As I am not afraid of him, I can afford
it."

Then he glanced at Gilmore who was standing sidewise to the window with
his hands in his pockets; and he frowned as he encountered Vane's eyes,
but his face softened directly.

"I won't ask you to come with us, Gil," said Vane frankly.

"All right, old Weathercock," cried Gilmore; and his face lit up now
with satisfaction.

"He doesn't think I'm afraid," said Vane to himself.

"Am I to wait all day for you?" cried Macey.

"No; all right, I'm coming," said Vane, finishing the strapping together
of his books.--"Ready now."

But he was not, for he hesitated for a moment, coloured, and then his
face, too, lit up, and he turned to Distin, and held out his hand.

"I'm afraid I lost my temper a bit, Distie," he said; "but that's all
over now. Shake hands."

Distin raised the lids of his half-closed eyes, and gazed full at the
speaker, but his hand did not stir from where it rested upon the book.

And the two lads stood for some moments gazing into each other's eyes,
till the blue-veined lids dropped slowly over Distin's, and without word
or further look, he took his cigarette case out of his pocket, walked
deliberately out of the study, and through the porch on to the gravel
drive, where, directly after, they heard the sharp _crick-crack_ of a
match.

"It's all going to end in smoke," said Macey, wrinkling up his forehead.
"I say, it isn't nice to wish it, because I may be in the same
condition some day; but I do hope that cigarette will make him feel
que