f a
marquisate from sitting in the House of Commons. It was the duty,
the very onerous duty, of Mr. Edward Mannix to explain to the
representatives of the people who did not agree with him in politics
that the army, under Lord Torrington's administration, was adequately
armed and intelligently drilled. The strain overwhelmed him, and his
doctor ordered him to take mud baths at Schlangenbad. Mrs. Mannix
behaved as a good wife should under such circumstances. She lifted every
care, not directly connected with the army, from her husband's mind.
The beginning of Frank's holidays synchronised with the close of the
parliamentary session. She arranged that Frank should spend the holidays
with Sir Lucius Lentaigne in Rosnacree. She had every right to demand
that her son should be allowed to catch the salmon and shoot the grouse
of Sir Lucius. Lady Lentaigne, who died young, was Mrs. Mannix's sister.
Sir Lucius was therefore Frank's uncle. Edward Mannix, M. P., worried
by Lord Torrington and threatened by his doctor, acquiesced in the
arrangement. He ordered a fishing rod and a gun for Frank. He sent the
boy a ten-pound note and then departed, pleasantly fussed over by his
wife, to seek new vigour in the mud of Germany.

Frank Mannix, seventeen years old, prefect and hero, stretched himself
with calm satisfaction in a corner of a smoking carriage in the Irish
night mail. Above him on the rack were his gun-case, his fishing-rod,
neatly tied into its waterproof cover, and a brown kit-bag. He smoked
a nice Egyptian cigarette, puffing out from time to time large fragrant
clouds from mouth and nostrils. His fingers, the fingers of the hand
which was not occupied with the cigarette, occasionally caressed his
upper lip. A fine down could be distinctly felt there. In a good light
it could even be seen. Since the middle of the Easter term he had found
it necessary to shave his chin and desirable to stimulate the growth
upon his upper lip with occasional applications of brilliantine. He was
thoroughly satisfied with the brown tweed suit which he wore, a pleasant
change of attire after the black coats and grey trousers enjoined by the
school authorities. He liked the look of a Burberry gabardine which lay
beside him on the seat. There was a suggestion of sport about it; yet
it in no way transgressed the line of good taste. Frank Mannix was aware
that his ties had set a lofty standard to the school. He felt sure that
his instinctive good ta