away to his brother. Lawrence's whole letter was so gay,
so exultant, so grateful that Irving, when he finished it, turned back
again to the first page. When at last he raised his eyes from it, they
dwelt unseeingly upon the boys before him; they held his brother's
image, his brother's smile. And from the vision he knew that there at
least he had justified himself, whatever might be his failure now; and
if he had succeeded once, he could succeed again.

Irving became aware that Westby was treating him with cheerful
indifference--ignoring him. He did not care; the letter had put into him
new courage. And pretty soon there woke in him along with this courage a
gentler spirit; it was all very well for Westby, a boy and therefore
under discipline, to exhibit a stiff and haughty pride; but it was
hardly admirable that a master should maintain that attitude. The
punishment to which he had sentenced Westby and Collingwood was, it
appeared, too harsh; if they were so proud that they would not appeal to
him to modify it, he would make a sacrifice in the interest of justice.

So after luncheon he followed Westby and spoke to him outside of the
dining-room.

"Westby," he said, "do you think that considering the circumstances
three sheets is excessive?"

Westby looked surprised; then he shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not asking any favors," he replied.

Irving laughed. "No," he said, "I see you're not. But I'm afraid I must
deny you the pleasure of martyrdom. I'll ask you to take a note to Mr.
Elwood--he's in charge of the Study, isn't he? I'll tell him that you're
to write a sheet and a half instead of three sheets."

He drew a note-book from his pocket and tore out one of the pages.
Westby looked at him curiously--as if in an effort to determine just how
poor-spirited this sudden surrender was. Irving spoke again before
writing.

"By the way, will you please ask Collingwood to come here?"

When Westby returned with Collingwood, Irving had the note written and
handed it to him; there was no excuse for Westby to linger. He went over
and waited by the door, while Irving said,--

"Collingwood, why didn't you come up and ask me to reduce your report?
Didn't you think it was unfair?"

"Yes," Collingwood answered promptly.

"Well, then--why didn't you come to me and say so?"

Collingwood thought a moment.

"Well," he said, "you had such fun in soaking me that I wasn't going to
give you the additional satisfaction of seei