ount
as compared with fame and honour; and my father, nodding his head,
supported me with manly argument; but my mother added to her prayers
another line.

Saturday came. The members of the hunt were mostly boys who lived in the
neighbourhood; so the arrangement was that at half-past two we should
meet at the turnpike gate outside the Spaniards. I brought my lunch with
me and ate it in Regent's Park, and then took the 'bus to the Heath. One
by one the others came up. Beyond mere glances, none of them took any
notice of me. I was wearing my ordinary clothes over my jersey. I knew
they thought I had come merely to see them start, and I hugged to myself
the dream of the surprise that was in store for them, and of which I
should be the hero. He came, one of the last, our leader and chief, and
I sidled up behind him and waited, while he busied himself organising
and constructing.

"But we've only got one hare," cried one of them. "We ought to have two,
you know, in case one gets blown."

"We've got two," answered the Duke. "Think I don't know what I'm about?
Young Kelver's going to be the other one."

Silence fell upon the meet.

"Oh, I say, we don't want him," at last broke in a voice. "He's a muff."

"He can run," explained the Duke.

"Let him run home," came another voice, which was greeted with laughter.

"You'll run home in a minute yourself," threatened the Duke, "if I have
any of your cheek. Who's captain here--you or me? Now, young 'un, are
you ready?"

I had commenced unbuttoning my jacket, but my hands fell to my side. "I
don't want to come," I answered, "if they don't want me."

"He'll get his feet wet," suggested the boy who had spoken first. "Don't
spoil him, he's his mother's pet."

"Are you coming or are you not?" shouted the Duke, seeing me still
motionless. But the tears were coming into my eyes and would not go
back. I turned my face away without speaking.

"All right, stop then," cried the Duke, who, like all authoritative
people, was impatient above all things of hesitation. "Here, Keefe, you
take the bag and be off. It'll be dark before we start."

My substitute snatched eagerly at the chance, and away went the hares,
while I, still keeping my face hid, moved slowly off.

"Cry-baby!" shouted a sharp-eyed youngster.

"Let him alone," growled the Duke; and I went on to where the cedars
grew.

I heard them start off a few minutes later with a whoop. How could I go
home, confess my disap