ite unconscious that sisterly eyes were watching, Egbert ushered his
fair partner into one of the old-fashioned square pews. It was a quiet
place to rest, and perhaps the young lady was tired. He sat by her side,
very much occupied in explaining something which the girls in the
peep-hole could not overhear. At last the quiet well-trained footsteps
of the verger echoed again in the nave. He glanced at the young couple
in the pew, and began to dust and rearrange the hymn-books. Egbert and
Miss Bertrand took the hint and departed.

The pair spying through the fretwork above also judged it expedient to
beat a hasty retreat. They were terrified lest the verger should
remember that he had left the tower door open, and should lock them in.
They stumbled back among the rafters, regardless of dust, and groped
their rather perilous way down the winding staircase. To their infinite
relief the door was not shut, and they were able to creep quietly out
and bolt from the Abbey unperceived. They fled along the stone path that
edged the churchyard, then stopped under the shelter of a ruined wall to
brush the dust off their dresses before re-entering the College.

"It's been quite an adventure!" gasped Verity.

"Rather! Particularly catching old Egbert. Won't he look silly when I
bring it out before the family? I don't know whether I _will_ tell them,
though! I think I'll keep it back, so as to have something to hold over
his head when he teases me. Yes, that would be far more fun, really. I
can hint darkly that I know one of his secrets, and he'll be so puzzled.
I don't admire his taste much. Queenie detests those Bertrand girls. I
don't know them myself to speak to, but I'm not impressed. Look here,
the dust simply _won't_ come off your skirt, Verity!"

"It'll do as it is, then, and I'll use the clothes brush afterwards.
Don't worry any more. There's the Abbey clock striking five! It's a few
minutes fast, fortunately, but we shall simply have to sprint, or we
shall be late for tea!"

CHAPTER XV

Brotherly Breezes

There was no doubt that Egbert was the odd one in the Saxon family. He
had inherited a testy strain of temper, and was frequently most
obstinate and perverse. It was unfortunate that he was an articled pupil
in his father's office, for he fretted and tried Mr. Saxon far more than
Athelstane would have done in the circumstances. Egbert's saving quality
was his intense love for his mother. Her influence held him