eak to me."

"No wonder."

"He says it's a shame for me to be always with you, and him not allowed
to come."

"So it is. Poor old Scoody! Did he say `she shall came'?"

"Yes, over and over again."

"So it is a shame, poor old chap! I'll bully father about it. I'd a
deal rather have him here than you."

"Would you, Kenneth?"

"Yes, ever so much: hanging about one, and wanting to coddle one like an
old woman! I hate it!"

"I'm very sorry. I did my best to make you comfortable."

"You don't do your best. It bores me."

"Shall I read to you a bit now?"

"No! Bother your old books! Who wants to lie here and be read to about
your jolly old Hentys, and Friths, and Percy Groves? I don't want
books; I want to go out on the mountain, or in the boat, and have a
rattling good sail. Here, I shall get up."

Max seized him and pressed him back, for he was very weak.

"The doctor says if you get out of bed, you'll faint again, same as you
did yesterday."

"All right!" said Kenneth, struggling feebly; "I want to faint the same
as I did yesterday. It will be a change."

"Nonsense! you shall not get up."

Kenneth lay back panting.

"Oh, how I do hate you!" he cried. "Just you wait till I get strong
again. I'll serve you out. Scoody and I will duck you, and get you on
the pony, and--I know! Just you let me get a chance, and I'll send you
sailing down the falls just the same as I did."

"No, you will not."

"Oh, won't I? you'll see. If you knock me about again like this, I'll
wait my chance, and pepper you with grouse-shot, and see how you like
that. I say!"

"Yes, Kenneth."

"Don't say `Yes, Kenneth,' say `Yes.' Look here: why doesn't Long Shon
come to ask how I am?"

"He does, every morning."

"He doesn't! a miserable old duck's legs!"

"But he does. I told you so."

"That you didn't. You take advantage of my lying here, and--Oh, I say,
you might shut that window, it does make it so hot."

Max rose to go and close the window; but Kenneth caught his hand and
held it, looking up at him wet-eyed and wistful.

"Maxy, old chap," he said softly.

"Yes."

"I am such a beast!"

"Nonsense!"

"I am. Don't take any notice of what I say. I feel as if I must be
disagreeable, and say all sorts of things I don't mean, and all the time
I know what a good un you are, sitting in this nasty, stuffy old room,
that smells of physic enough to knock you down."

"I like sitting with you."

"Y