a little, whereby a cushion fell to the ground.
With a gust of petulance he pitched another after it, and then in
rather a shamed way, told Christopher to ring for Vespasian to put the
confounded things right.

But Christopher did no such thing. He put his strong arm round Caesar,
raised him, and rearranged the refractory cushions, talking the while
to divert attention from this unheard-of proceeding.

"I shall go to London to-morrow and study Sam in order to oust him
from your fickle affections," he announced. "Seriously, Caesar. I ought
to be running round seeing things a bit."

And Caesar, having brought him to the conclusion he wished, signified
his entire approval.

The following morning when Christopher came in to bid Caesar good-bye,
he found Mr. Aston also there, standing by the fire with a humorous
smile on his face in evident appreciation of some joke.

"Christopher," said Aymer severely, "I have something important to say
to you."

Christopher drew himself up to attention as he had learnt to do when
under rebuke as a boy.

"If you are going to make a habit of running up and down to town and
the ends of the earth on ridiculous business and worrying everyone's
life out with time-tables (it was notorious Christopher never
consulted anyone about his comings and goings), you must understand
you cannot use Renata's carriage and pair for your station work. Max's
pony is not up to your weight, neither is the station fly. I find on
inquiry my father occasionally requires his motor for his own use;
anyhow, it is not supposed to get muddy. So you had better buy one for
yourself."

He held out a blank signed cheque.

Christopher looked from one to the other. It was the dream of his life
to possess a motor, but this free gift of one was overwhelming.

"Of course," went on Caesar hastily, "I shan't give you a birthday
present too. It's to get out of that, you understand. You are
twenty-one, aren't you? And it's only half mine, the other half is
from St. Michael. I don't know where your manners are, Christopher; I
thought I had brought you up to be polite. Go and thank the gentleman
nicely."

Christopher turned to Mr. Aston, but he was beyond words. He could
only look his overwhelming gratitude.

"It's not I," said that gentleman, hastily. "I only told Caesar I'd
like to go shares--the lamps or bells or something. Get a good horn
with a good rich tone."

Christopher took the cheque with shaking fingers.