s
moated grange, or Horsington Hill with its long-stretching view across
the Uxbridge plain.

Very soon it became the natural thing for Caesar to give John a glimpse,
at least, of whatever floated in and out of his mind. John, being
himself a creature of reserves, could not quite understand this unlocking
of doors, but he appreciated his privileges. Caesar's ingenuousness,
sympathy, and impulsiveness, seemed the more enchanting because John
himself was of the look-before-you-leap, think-before-you-speak, sort.
One Sunday evening they were hurrying back to Chapel, when they passed a
woman carrying a heavy child. The poor creature appeared to be almost
fainting with fatigue and possibly hunger. Her pinched face, her bent
figure, her thin garments, bespoke a passionate protest against
conditions which obviously she was powerless to avert or control. The
boys glanced at her with pitying eyes as they passed. Then Desmond said
quickly--

"I say, Jonathan, she looks as if she was going to fall down."

John, seeing what was in his friend's mind, said--

"We must hurry up, or we shall miss Chapel."

They offered the woman sixpences, and blushes, because through the
tattered shawl might be seen a shrunken bosom.

The woman stared, stammered, and burst into tears.

"We shall miss Chapel," John repeated.

"Hang Chapel," said Desmond.

He was looking at the child. When the woman took the silver, she let the
child slip to the ground, where it lay inert.

"What's the matter with it?" said Desmond.

Half sobbing, the woman explained that the child had sprained its ankle.

"I'm just about done," she gasped; "an' the sight o' you two young
gen'lemen runnin' up the 'ill finished me. I ain't the leaky sort," she
added fiercely, still gasping and trembling.

Then she bent down and tried to lift the heavy child, which moaned
feebly.

"You run on, Jonathan," said Desmond.

"Why?"

"I'm going to carry this kid up the hill."

"I'll help."

"No--hook it, you ass."

"I won't hook it."

Between them they carried the child as far as the Speech-room, where a
policeman accepted a shilling, and gave in return a positive assurance
that he would see woman and child to their destination. When the boys
were alone, John said--

"Caesar----"

"Well?"

"What a fellow you are! I wouldn't have thought of that. It was
splendid."

"Oh, shut up." There was a slight pause; then Caesar said defiantly, "I
thought of carrying that k