Watersprings

e tempers had been wearing a little thin, got suddenly more genial, like guests

did not like the thought of a visit; as a rule he went off with an undergraduate or two to some lonely inn, where they fished or walked and did a little work.

ndependent means, who had done some educational work for a time, but had now retired, lived in her own little house, and occupied herself with social schemes of various sorts. She was a year or two older than Howard. They did not very often meet, but there was a pleasant camaraderie between them, an almost brotherly and sisterly relation. She was a small, quiet, able woman, whose tranquil manner concealed great clear-headedness and decisiveness. H

ght all to have one big change in our lives, about your age, I mean. Why don't you

o live in the same place and do the same things; and I had no intention of being bored-I have always thought that very feeble! But I have fallen suddenly into the frame of mind of knowing exactly what all my friends here are going to

tell you what to do NOW. Why not go and stay with Aunt Anne? She would like to see you, I know, and I have always thought i

was a boy, when Uncle John was alive-but that was at Bristol. What

ery religious myself, but she makes it seem rather interesting to me-she has experiences-I don't quite know what they are; but she is a sort of artist in religion, I think. That's a bad description, because it sounds self-conscious; and she isn't that-she has a sense of humour, and she doesn't rub things in. You know ho

m really ashamed to suggest going there. She has ask

to see you-she said to me once that the idea of coming didn't seem to amuse you, but she

ld like to go. You know Jack Sandys, your cousin, now my pupil. He i

to dinner or something-and I like his sister even better. But I am afraid that Jack may turn out a bore too-he is rather charming at present, because he says whatever comes into his head; and it's all quite fresh; but that is what poor Cousin Frank does-only it's not at all fresh! However, ther

. You crystallise things. I shall like to see Aunt Anne, and I shall like to see Jack at home; and meanwhile will you think the ma

sappointed men here-people who wake up suddenly in middle life, and realise that if they had gone out into the w

est a visit; he added that he felt ashamed of himself for never coming, "bu

orwards to the vacation at all, he said; "Windlow is simply

m going to stay with Mrs. Graves-that is, if she will have me. I don't mind saying

's some wretched fishing in the river, and there is some rabbit-shooting on the downs. Mrs. Graves has a keeper, a shabby old man w

ot and fish in a feeble way.

; but by George, how he does talk! I often think I'd like to turn him loose in the Combination Room. No one would have a chance. Redmayne simply wouldn't be in it with my father. I've invented rather a good game when he gets off. I try to see how many I can count before I am expected to make a remark. I have never quite got up to a thousand, but once I nearly let the cat out by saying nine hundred and fifty, nine hundred and fifty-one, when my father stopped for breath. He gave me a look, I can tell you, but I don't think he s

"you will corrupt my ingenuous mind. How shall I

sit there counting away alternately, and we will have some money on the run.

as you can. I had half promised to go and stay a week with Travers. But now I won't. By George, there isn't another don I would pay that compliment to! It would simply freez

"I'll give you some coaching in the morning

have to be gratis, though! I haven't a cent. Besides, I

tive at best, you will find; you will have to get a better reaso

rest; but I would do a good deal of work to get a reasonable person down at Windlow. I simply da