.

"Think so?"

"Sure of it, sir; sure of it."

"Well, I hope not," said the Vicar thoughtfully. "Fine thing for the
poor boy. Make a man of him."

"Ah, but he is not content with that. He means to make a gentleman of
him, and that's an impossibility."

"Ah, well," said the Vicar good-humouredly; "we shall see."

"Yes, sir," said Sir James; "we shall see--we shall see; but it's a most
unpleasant episode in our midst. Of course, being such near neighbours,
I have been on the most intimate terms with the Graysons, and Lady Danby
is warmly attached to Helen Grayson; but now they have this boy there,
they want us to know him too."

"Indeed!" said the Vicar, looking half-amused, half puzzled.

"Yes, sir," said Sir James; "and they want--at least Grayson does--Edgar
here to become his playmate."

"Ah!" ejaculated the Vicar.

"Sent word yesterday that they should be glad if Edgar would go and
spend the afternoon. Awkward, sir; extremely awkward."

"Did he go?"

"Go? no, sir; decidedly not. Edgar refused to go, point-blank."

Master Edgar was walking a little way in front, looking like a small
edition of his father in a short jacket, for he imitated Sir James's
stride, put on his tall hat at the same angle, and carried his black
cane with its two silken tassels in front of him, as a verger in church
carries a wand.

"I wasn't going," said Master Edgar importantly. "I don't want to know
a boy like that."

"What would you do under the circumstances?" said Sir James.

"Do?" said the Vicar; "why I should--I beg your pardon--will you excuse
me? I am wanted."

He pointed to a lady who was signalling to him with a parasol, and
hurried off.

"How lucky!" he said to himself. "I don't want to offend Sir James; but
'pon my word, knowing what I do of his young cub, I would rather have
Grayson's _protege_ on spec."

"Where are we going for a walk, pa!" said Master Edgar importantly.

"Through the quarry there, and by the windmill, and back home."

"_No_; I meant to go down by the river, pa, to see if there are any
fish."

"Another day will do for that, Eddy."

"No, it won't. I want to go now."

"Oh, very well," said Sir James; and they took the way to the meadows.

Meanwhile Helen and Dexter had gone on some distance ahead.

"There, you see, Dexter; how easy it is to do wrong," said Helen, as,
feeling greatly relieved, she hurried on toward the meadows.

"I didn't know it was doing wrong to have