solemn pewter only used on
state occasions; while Arthur, equally elated at the easy accomplishment
of his first act of volition in the joint establishment, produced from
his side a bottle of pickles and a pot of jam, and cleared the table. In
a minute or two the noise of the boys coming up from supper was heard,
and Martin knocked and was admitted, bearing his bread and cheese, and
the three fell to with hearty good-will upon the viands, talking faster
than they ate, for all shyness disappeared in a moment before Tom's
bottled beer and hospitable ways. "Here's Arthur, a regular young town
mouse, with a natural taste for the woods, Martin, longing to break his
neck climbing trees, and with a passion for young snakes."

"Well, I say," sputtered out Martin, eagerly, "will you come to-morrow,
both of you, to Caldecott's Spinney, then, for I know of a kestrel's
nest, up a fir-tree--I can't get at it without help; and, Brown, you can
climb against any one."

"Oh yes, do let us go," said Arthur; "I never saw a hawk's nest, nor a
hawk's egg."

"You just come down to my study then, and I'll show you five sorts,"
said Martin.

"Ay, the old Madman has got the best collection in the house,
out-and-out," said Tom; and then Martin, warming with unaccustomed good
cheer and the chance of a convert, launched out into a proposed
birds'-nesting campaign, betraying all manner of important secrets; a
golden-crested wren's nest near Butlin's Mound, a moor-hen that was
sitting on nine eggs in a pond down the Barby Road, and a kingfisher's
nest in a corner of the old canal above Brownsover Mill. He had heard,
he said, that no one had ever got a kingfisher's nest out perfect, and
that the British Museum, or the Government, or somebody, had offered
L100 to any one who could bring them a nest and eggs not damaged. In the
middle of which astounding announcement, to which the others were
listening with open ears, already considering the application of the
L100, a knock came at the door, and East's voice was heard craving
admittance.

"There's Harry," said Tom; "we'll let him in--I'll keep him steady,
Martin. I thought the old boy would smell out the supper."

The fact was that Tom's heart had already smitten him for not asking his
"fidus Achates" to the feast, although only an extempore affair; and
though prudence and the desire to get Martin and Arthur together alone
at first had overcome his scruples, he was now heartily glad to open the