"

"No, I'm not," cried Dick cheerily; "only precious hot."

"Then if you are not ill you ought to be ashamed of yourself," said
Arthur pettishly; "causing papa so much anxiety."

"Why, I think I behaved well," said Dick, chuckling to himself. "If I
had taken you with me I should have given father twice as much trouble
and worry."

"Taken me! Why, I should not have gone," said Arthur haughtily; "and if
you had not been so fond of getting into low company all this would not
have happened."

"Get out with your low company! There was nothing low about those two
fishermen."

"I only call one of them a boy," said Arthur, yawning.

"Oh, very well: boy then. But I say, Taff, I wish you had been there."

"Thank you. I was much better at home."

"I mean while we were fishing. I caught such lovely mackerel, and a
magnificent Polly something--I forget its name--all orange and gold and
bronze, nine or ten pound weight."

"Stuff!" said Arthur contemptuously.

"But I did, I tell you."

"Then where is it?"

"Where is it? Oh, I don't know. When the steamer ran us down the fish
and the tackle and all went overboard, I suppose. I never saw it
again."

"Then you lost all the sprats," said Arthur sneeringly.

"Sprats! Get out, you sneering old Taff! You are disappointed because
you didn't go with us. Why, there was a big turbot, and a sole or two,
and a great skate with a prickly back, and gurnards and dog-fish."

"And cats?" sneered Arthur.

"No, there were no cats, Taff. I say, though, I wish you had been
there, only not when we got into trouble. I'll get Josh and Will to
take you next time we go."

"Next time you go!" echoed Arthur. "Why, you don't suppose that papa
will let you go again?"

"Oh, yes, I do," said Dick, yawning and speaking drowsily. "Because a
chap falls off a horse once, nobody says he isn't to ride any more.
You'll see: father will let me go. I don't suppose--we should--should--
what say?"

"I didn't speak," said Arthur haughtily. "There, go to sleep."

"Go to sleep!" said Dick. "No--not bit sleepy. I--I'm--very
comfortable, though, and--and--Ah!"

That last was a heavy sigh, and Arthur Temple lay listening to his
brother's deep regular breathing for some minutes, feeling bitter and
hurt at all that had taken place that day, and as if he had been thrust
into a very secondary place. Then he, too, dropped asleep, and he was
still sleeping soundly when Dick awoke, to jump