Wrench," cried Glyn excitedly, "were you sent up to tell
us that my father was here?"

"No, sir," said the man, grinning; "but I thought you'd like to know. I
must go now, in case my bell rings."

The footman went off hurriedly, and the two boys, after a fresh visit to
the looking-glass, tried to make the best of their appearance.

Glyn combed his hair down in a streak over one side of his bruised
forehead, while Singh poured out some cold water and dabbed and sponged
his right eye; but he could not wash away the discoloration that
surrounded it, and after applying the towel he plumped himself down in a
chair and sat staring at his companion.

"It's no use," he said; "I daren't face guardian, and I won't."

"You tell him so," said Glyn, laughing, "and see what he will say."

"How am I going to tell him so when I shan't see him?"

"Why, you'll be obliged to."

"I tell you I won't!" cried Singh passionately.

"There's a sneak! And you will let me go down alone and face it all."

"Oh, I say, don't talk like that," cried Singh. "Can't we get out of it
somehow, old chap? Let's run away till the Colonel's gone."

"Yes, of course," cried Glyn sarcastically. "How much money have you
got?"

"Oh, I don't know; half-a-crown and some shillings."

"Oh, I have got more than that. I have got half-a-sovereign. Shall we
go to Plymouth, and sail for somewhere abroad?"

"Yes, anywhere, so that we don't have to meet your father."

"Ah," said Glyn, who was trying very hard to make the lock of hair he
had combed over a bruise stop in its place, but it kept jumping up again
and curling back to the customary position in spite of applications of
cold water and pomatum.

"Well, what do you mean by `Ah'?" grumbled Singh.

"Mean by `Ah'?" replied Glyn slowly. "Why, it means what a stupid old
chucklehead you are. Run away! Likely, isn't it?"

"Oh, too late! too late!" cried Singh, for there was another sharp tap
at the door, and Wrench entered smartly, closely followed by his cat.

"Doctor's compliments, gentlemen, and you are to come down into the
drawing-room directly.--And just you go back to the pantry at once," he
shouted at his cat. "How many more times am I to tell you that you are
not to follow me up into the young gentlemen's rooms?"

"Bah!" shouted Glyn, and he threw the hairbrush he held smartly at the
footman, who caught it cleverly, as if he were fielding a ball at
mid-wicket, and deposited it upon th