y.

"Well, I don't care so much about marrying him now, because I should
like to marry you!"

"Me! Oh, good Lord, I don't want to be engaged, thanks."

"Oh, Clifford, do!"

"None of the chaps at school are engaged. It isn't done. Being engaged
is rot. Pickering isn't engaged."

"Yes; but I don't see why we shouldn't," she said, pouting.

"Well, I do, and I sha'n't be."

"But mightn't you later on, when we're older?" she implored.

"Why, no, I shouldn't think so. Why, your mother would be very angry.
You're only twelve. You're not out. You can't be engaged before you're
out. Your mother would think it awful cheek of me."

"Well, I won't say anything more about it now," she said. "But,
Clifford, will you, _perhaps_, _when_ I am out?"

"Oh, good Lord! What utter bosh. How do I know what I'll do when you're
out?"

She began to look tearful.

"Oh, well, all right. I'll see. Perhaps I may. Mind, I don't promise."

He was thinking that if he refused her irrevocably and unconditionally
he might not be asked to the house again. And he liked going on account
of Pickering, Mrs. Pickering, and the house.

"Look here," he said after a moment's pause. "Let's forget all about
this. I don't think your mother would like it."

"You think so much of my mother," she answered.

"Well, I should think so, don't you?"

"Oh yes, Clifford, I love her, of course."

"Well, then, don't you want me to like her?"

"Oh yes; but not much more than me."

"Oh, well, I can't help that," he said very decidedly.

She looked subdued.

"Then you do like me a little bit too, Clifford?"

"Yes, of course. I say, don't worry."

"All right, I beg your pardon, Clifford. ... Oh, there's Eustace!"

His step was heard. When his friends were there his sister called him
Pickering, not to be out of it.

"Won't you kiss me to show you're not cross with me, Clifford?"

"Yes, if you like, my dear. But we're not engaged, you know."

"Right-o," she answered.

He kissed her hurriedly and Eustace came in. Eustace was a big dark thin
boy of fourteen, not good-looking or like his sister in any way, but
with a very pleasant humorous expression. He was remarkably clever at
school, and his reports were, with regard to work, quite unusually high.
Conduct was not so satisfactory, though he was popular both with boys
and masters. His two hobbies were chemistry and practical jokes.
Unfortunately the clear distinction between the two was not always
s