* *

Timmy was supposed to prepare his lessons between tea and dinner, but
unlike the ordinary boy, he much preferred to wake early and work before
breakfast. This was considered not good for his health, and there was
a constant struggle between himself and his determined mother to force
him to do the normal thing. So after she had finished her tea, she
beckoned to her son, and he unwillingly got up and followed her into
the drawing-room. But before he could settle down at his own special
table Betty came in.

"Janet, I want to ask you something before I go into the village. There
are one or two things we must get in, if Mrs. Crofton is coming this
evening--"

The little boy did not wait to hear his mother's answer. He crept very
quietly out of the open window, which was close to his table, and then
made his way round to the first of the long French windows of the
dining-room. He was just in time to hear his brother Tom ask in a very
solemn tone: "I say, you fellows! Wasn't Betty once engaged to this
Radmore chap?"

Timmy, skilfully ensconced behind the full old green damask curtains,
listened, with all his ears, for the answer.

"Yes," said Jack at last, with a touch of reluctance. "They were engaged,
but not for very long. Still, they'd been fond of one another for an age
and George was his greatest friend--"

Rosamund broke in: "Do tell us what he's like, Jack! I suppose you can
remember him quite well?"

Jack hesitated, rather uncomfortably.

"Of course I remember Radmore very well indeed. He had quite a tidy bit
of money, as both his parents were dead. His snuffy old guardian had been
at Balliol with father. So father was asked to coach him. And then, well,
I suppose as time went on, and Betty began growing up, he fell in love
with her."

"And she with him?" interposed Rosamund.

"A girl is apt to like any man who likes her," said Jack loftily. "But I
believe 'twas he made all the fuss when the engagement was broken off."

"But why was it broken off?" asked Rosamund.

"Because he'd lost all his money racing."

"What a stupid thing to do!" exclaimed Tom.

"The row came during the Easter holidays," went on Jack meditatively,
"and there was a fearful dust-up. Like an idiot, Radmore had gone and put
the whole of the little bit of money he had saved out of the fire on an
outsider he had some reason to think would be bound to romp in first--and
the horse was not even placed!"

"Poor fello