pils in it might not
be all that could be wished.

[Illustration: 'GOOD-BYE, CECIL.'

_See page 124._]

Cecil was to start from home each day about half-past eight, and not to
return till after the school broke up at five o'clock, except on the two
half-holidays--Wednesday and Saturday. Eight miles' walking would have
been too much for him; and it had been arranged that on the four other
days he should dine with Mr. and Mrs. Bardsley, and his hours of work
would be from nine to twelve and from two to five, with tasks to prepare
at home in the evening.

It seemed rather hard to begin this routine just in the first days of
August, when the weather was so lovely, and the woods so enticing, and
holiday cricket-matches going on in Wilbourne Park. Cecil's face was a
little dismal at breakfast the first morning, and it was real
self-government which kept him from grumbling when Jessie was helping
him to put his schoolbooks together. Just as they were firmly strapped,
his mother came to bid him 'good-bye for a few hours,' with a tender
kiss and a few cheerful words, and after that his heart felt lighter,
and he set out bravely; but he was just beginning to think what a long
dull walk it was, and what a dusty road, and how delightful it would be
if he might shy his books over the hedge and strike off across the
meadows to join Percy, who had gone out fishing, when he heard steps
behind him, and turning, saw the tall curate running along with rapid
strides. His first impression was that something had happened at the
Rectory since he started, and that Mr. Yorke was come to take him back;
but he was soon undeceived.

'I've got business in Fairview,' the young clergyman explained, 'and I
meant to go in early; and when I saw you pass by, I thought I might as
well get ready and try to overtake you. I like company myself; don't
you?'

'Yes, very much,' said Cecil, swinging his books over his shoulder
cheerfully again, instead of dangling them drearily from the end of the
strap, as he had been doing before. 'Lewis wanted to come with me, but
mother wouldn't have liked his walking back alone; and besides, one
doesn't always want a little chap like that after one.'

'I thought Percy might want to get his watch-chain mended,' said Mr.
Yorke, with rather a droll expression in his eyes. 'Doesn't it require
mending periodically? That was what he always used to tell me last
vacation, when I met him going into Fairview.'

'He hadn't