ave a school for themselves. It's not pleasant to
have the fellow who cuts your waistcoat crowing over you in class."

Horace began to whistle, as he generally did when the conversation took
a turn that did not please him.

"Best way to remedy that," said he, presently, "is not to get beaten by
your tailor's son."

"Shut up, Horace," said the elder brother; "what's the use of making
yourself disagreeable? Bland's quite right, and you know you think so
yourself."

"Oh, all serene," said Horace, cheerfully; "shouldn't have known I
thought so unless you had told me. What do you think, Harker?"

"Well," said Harker, laughing, "as I am disreputable enough to be the
only son of a widow who has barely enough to live on, and who depends on
the charity of a cousin or some one of the sort for my education, I'm
afraid Bland and I would have to go to different schools."

Every one laughed at this confession, and Reginald said,--

"Oh, but you're different, Harker--besides, it isn't money makes the
difference--"

"The thing is," interposed Horace, "was your father in the wholesale or
retail trade?--that's the difference!"

"I wish you'd shut up, Horace," said Reginald tartly; "you always spoil
any argument with your foolery."

"Now that's hard lines," said Horace, "when I thought I was putting the
case beautifully for you. Never mind. What do you say to a bathe in
the river, you fellows?"

"Too much fag to get towels," said Reginald; "but if you like to go for
them, and don't ask us to look at our watches and see in how many
seconds you run up to the house and back, we'll think about it."

"Thanks," said Horace, and started up to the house whistling cheerily.

"Awfully hot that brother of yours make? a fellow," said Blandford,
watching him disappear.

"Yes," said Reginald, yawning, "he is rather flighty, but he'll turn out
all right, I hope."

"Turn out!" said Harker; "why he's all right already, from the crown of
his head to the sole of his boot."

"Except," said Blandford, "for a slight crack in the crown of his head.
It's just as well, perhaps, he's not the eldest son, Reg."

"Well," said Reginald laughing, "I can hardly fancy Horace the head of
the family."

"Must be a rum sensation," said Harker, "to be an heir and not have to
bother your head about how you'll get your bread and butter some day.
How many hundred millions of pounds is it you'll come in for, Reg? I
forget."

"What a humbug you are!"