he had thought of going.

"But about to-morrow," he added. "I don't think I can come--"

"Oh, but you must," Dodds cried out, interrupting him. "I simply can't
do without you. Look here; if it is the batting that you are feeling
sore about, you shall go in first. There! I have promised you that."

Hal's face brightened. He _did_ wish to show Dodds that his batting
was very much better than his bowling. And perhaps Dodds would be so
struck with the brilliancy of his performance that he might after all
manage to secure him a place in the match. It would be a real pity, he
reflected, to neglect such a chance. After all, the others could very
well do without him to-morrow.

"Well," said Dodds impatiently, "what do you say? Will you come? Or
are you going somewhere with your brothers and sisters? You have got
some, haven't you?"

"Yes," said Hal; "but I never play with them--not since I have been at
school, at least. You see they are all much younger than I am."

"Oh, a set of kids," said Dodds indifferently. "What a nuisance they
must be!"

But this Hal did have the grace to contradict.

"Oh no, they are not," he said; "but they have kept on liking things
that I don't care about, and they get huffy when I don't play with
them. Of course," he added with an aggrieved air, "it is hardly likely
that I should care to mix myself up very much with them now."

"I see," said Dodds; and though they could not see his face, Drusie and
Jim were sure there must have been a twinkle of merriment in his eyes.
"You have grown out of all their games, you mean, and are too old to
play with them any more."

"Yes," said Hal eagerly; "that's just it. Now, you understand that all
right at once, but I cannot get them to see it."

"It is wonderful how silly kids can be," said Dodds gravely. "But,
look here; are you coming or are you not? For, if you are not, I shall
ask one of the Harveys to spend the day with me."

That was enough for Hal. Throwing his scruples and his half-formed
resolution to spend his birthday at home to the winds, he said at once
that he would come.

"That's right," said Dodds in the half-patronizing tone he had used all
along. "Be here directly after breakfast then, and you shall have
first innings; that's a bargain."

"I won't forget," said Hal in a delighted tone. "I expect I shall be
up here about nine o'clock."

It was a very melancholy little quartette that presently emerged from
th