broke
in upon these meditations.

"I say--what are you frowning about?"

John, very red, replied nervously, "Now that you're in the Sixth, you
ought to chuck smoking."

"What rot!" said Caesar. "And here, in this tower, where one couldn't
possibly be nailed----"

"That's it," said John. "It's just because you can't possibly be nailed
that it seems to me not quite square."

Caesar burst out laughing. "Jonathan, you _are_ a rum 'un. Anyway--here
goes!"

As he spoke he flung the pipe into the bushes below.

"Thanks," said John, quietly.

"We'll come here again. I like this old tower."

"You won't come here without me?"

"Oh, ho! I'm not to let the Demon into our paradise--eh? What a jealous
old bird you are! Well, I like you to be jealous." And he laughed again.

"I am jealous," said John, slowly.

* * * * *

The School broke up on the following Tuesday, and Desmond went home with
John.

This happened to be the first time that the friends had spent Easter
together. John wondered whether Caesar would take the Sacrament with his
mother and him. He and Caesar had been confirmed side by side in the
Chapel at Harrow. He felt sure that Desmond would not refuse if he were
asked. On Easter Eve, Mrs. Verney said, in her quiet, persuasive
voice--

"You will join us to-morrow morning, Harry?"

Desmond flushed, and said, "Yes."

Not remembering his own mother, who had died when he was a child, he
often told John that he felt like a son to Mrs. Verney. Upon Easter
morning, the three met in the hall, and Desmond asked for a Prayer-book.

"I've lost mine," he murmured.

That afternoon, when they were alone upon the splendid moor above
Stoneycross, Desmond said suddenly--

"Religion means a lot to you, Jonathan, doesn't it?"

"Yes."

"But you never talk about it."

"No."

"Why not?"

"I don't know how to begin."

"There's such sickening hypocrisy in this world."

John nodded.

"But your religion is a help to you, eh? Keeps you straight?"

John nodded again. Then Desmond said with an air of finality--

"I wish I'd some of your faith. I want it badly."

"If you want it badly, you will get it."

A long silence succeeded. Then Desmond exclaimed--

"Hullo! By Jove, there's a fox, a splendid fellow! He's come up here
amongst the rabbits for a Sunday dinner. Gone awa-a-a-ay!"

He put his hand to his mouth and halloaed. A minute later he was talking
of hunting. Religio