ngement of all the games and sports, and the
fellows would obey me when no one else could do anything with them. I
should like to have a crowd of workmen under me--and I'll tell you this!
they would do more work, and do it better, and be more contented over
it, than any other workmen in the district!"

"Gracious!" cried Norah, "you are conceited! But I believe you are
right. It's something in your eyes--I noticed it as soon as I saw you--
a sort of commanding look, and a flash every now and then when you
aren't quite pleased. They flashed like anything just now, when I said
you were lazy! The poor coolies would be frightened out of their
senses. But you needn't go abroad unless you like. You could stay at
home and keep a school."

"No, thank you. I know too much about it. I don't want the life
worried out of me by a lot of boys. I could manage them quite well
though, if I chose."

"You couldn't manage me!" Norah brought her black brows together in
defiant fashion, but the challenge was not taken up, for Master Rex
simply ejaculated, "Oh, girls! I wasn't talking about girls," and laid
his head against the cushions in such an indifferent fashion that Norah
felt snubbed; and the next question came in a very subdued little
voice--"Don't you--er--_like_ girls?"

"Ye-es--pretty well--the ones I know. I like my sister, of course, but
we have only seen each other in the holidays for the last six years.
She is sixteen now, and has to leave school because her chest is
delicate, and she has come home to be coddled. She don't like it a
bit--leaving school, I mean--so it seems that none of us are contented.
She's clever, in music especially; plays both violin and piano
uncommonly well for a girl of her age."

"Oh, does she? That's my gift. I play the violin beautifully," cried
Norah modestly, and when Rex laughed aloud she grew angry, and protested
in snappish manner, "Well, you said yourself that we could not help
knowing our own talents. It's quite true, I _do_ play well. Everyone
says so. If you don't believe it, I'll get my violin and let you hear."

"I wish you would! Please forgive me for laughing, I didn't mean to be
rude, but it sounded so curious that I forgot what I was doing. Do
play! I should love to hear you."

Norah walked across the room and lifted the beloved violin from its
case. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was tingling with the
remembrance of that incredulous laugh, but her anger