morse. I know well enough now, though I
don't like owning it, that if I had done as you told me, and taken care
always to lock it up, that belt wouldn't be gone."

"Well, it's too late to talk about that," said Glyn, "and it's no use to
cry over spilt milk. You have got to face it all out with the dad when
he comes, and take your blowing-up like a man."

"I can't. I shall do just as I said, and even if it isn't going to be
the same belt," cried the boy passionately, "I shall give your father
orders. Yes, I can see you sneering. Orders, orders," he repeated,
with increased emphasis, "to have a new one made."

Glyn threw himself back on his bed, and gave his heels a kick in the
air. "Ho, ho! ha, ha!" he roared with laughter. "What a game! Mind
and do it when I am there. I should like to see you jump on a fence and
cry `Cock-a-doodle-doo' at my father. Fancy you playing the haughty
prince to him! Why, he'd stare at you. You know his way. And he'd
take a grab of his moustache in each hand and pull it out straight
before he began; and then he'd get up out of his chair, take hold of you
by one of your ears, lead you back, and put you between his knees as he
seated himself again. And then he'd talk, and at the first word he
said, he'd blow all the haughty wind out of you, and you'd curl up like
a--oh, I don't know what. It's nonsense to try and think of similes,
for you'd never say what you pretend."

"Well, then, I shall bolt, as you call it," cried Singh. "I won't face
him. I can't face him."

"Why?"

"Because I am too proud I suppose, and the Colonel isn't my master."

"I say, Singhy, get off the stilts, old chap, and be a man over it. You
know what the dad always used to say to both of us: `A fellow who has
done wrong and owns up like a man is half-forgiven at once.'"

"Oh yes, I recollect. But do help me now, I am in such trouble."

"You are in no worse trouble than I am."

"Oh yes, I am. You are not to blame, for you did tell me to be careful;
and though I didn't like it at the time, I can see now how right you
were."

"Yes; but I wasn't half right enough. I ought to have made you tell the
Doctor what you'd got in the box, and then he'd have insisted upon its
being kept in a safer place."

"But I wouldn't have given it up," cried Singh angrily.

"Oh yes, you would," continued Glyn; "and I feel now that I ought to
have gone straight to the Doctor and told about your going to see
Profes