boy set his teeth, wrinkled
his brow, and looked hard, for Colonel Pendarve treated his son in a
very military fashion. He was kindness and gentleness itself, but his
laws were like those of the Medes and Persians done into plain English.

But the whole week had passed, and Mrs Pendarve took him to task one
morning.

"Come, Gwyn," she said, "I am quite sure your father does not wish you
to mope over your books, and give up going out to your old amusements."

"Doesn't he, mother?" said the boy, drearily.

"Of course not. What has become of Joe Jollivet? He has not been near
you."

"In the black books, too, I suppose," said Gwyn, bitterly. "Major's
been giving it to him."

"Gwyn, I will not have you talk like that," said his mother. "You boys
both deserve being taken to task for your reckless folly. You forget
entirely the agony you caused me when I heard of what had taken place."

"I didn't want to cause you agony, mother," pleaded the boy.

"I know that, my dear, but you have been growing far too reckless of
late. Now be sensible, and go on as if there had been no trouble
between your father and you. I wish it. Try and grasp the spirit in
which your father's reproofs were given."

"All right, mother, I will," said Gwyn; and his face brightened up once
more.

The consequence was that he went out into the yard, and unchained the
dog, with very great difficulty, for the poor beast was nearly mad with
excitement directly it realised the fact that it was going out with its
master for a run; and as soon as they entered the lane, set off straight
for the Major's gates, stopping every now and then to look round, and to
see if Gwyn was going there.

But half-way up the hill Gwyn turned off on to the rough granite
moorland, and Grip had to come back a hundred yards to the place where
his master had turned off, and dashed after him.

It didn't matter to the dog, for there was some imaginary thing to hunt
wherever they went; and as soon as he saw that he was on the right
track, he began hunting most perseveringly.

For Gwyn did not want to go to the Major's. He felt that he would like
to see Joe and have a good long talk with him, as well as compare notes;
but if he had gone to the house, he would have had to see the Major, and
that gentleman would doubtless have something to say that would not be
pleasant to him--perhaps blame him for Joe getting into difficulties.

No, he did not want to go to the Major