of skill, but absolutely
necessary to such things as skating, boxing, wrestling, wing-shooting,
tennis and the like. Self-consciousness in such cases means awkwardness.
Bobby, in learning a new thing, was awkward. But he possessed a
wonderful persistence. In time he would think all around a thing. In
more time he would have practised it sufficiently to have lost sight of
the carefully considered "reason why" for each move. Thus the final,
though delayed, result was apt to be more consistent performance than
Johnny's brilliantly instinctive achievements.

For example, Bobby tried again and again to attain the quick twisting
heave necessary to the common "grape-vine." At no time did he achieve
more than partial success. But in his numerous attempts he, without
knowing it, taught Johnny. That quick-witted youth caught the
possibilities and at his first attempt sprawled Bobby. In fact, by the
time Bobby had even a fair command of the three or four falls shown him
by his father, Johnny was skilful in them all and could catch Bobby with
them twice as often as Bobby could catch him. This kept Bobby
humble-minded, and, as it in no way discouraged him from keeping at it,
was a good thing for him. Here is perhaps as good a place as any to
remark parenthetically that while the friends scuffled and wrestled
constantly, Johnny never got to be much better than he became in the
first three weeks, while Bobby, in later years, was the middle-weight
champion of his class at college.

The autumn passed, and colder weather set in. Out of doors was available
only for the activities of life. As long as energy was burnt with some
lavishness, all was well, but when the first enthusiasm had ebbed, Jack
Frost began to nip shrewdly. Then the children went within doors. They
divided their favours almost equally between the third stories of the
Orde and English homes.

The Englishes' third story had never been finished. Bare walls, bare
floors, fresh varnished wood-work and the steam radiators constituted
the whole equipment.

This very openness of space, however, proved an irresistible attraction
to the children. Gradually articles of their amusement became installed,
until the latter end of that third story was an official "play room."
Shelves--made by Johnny--held books and miscellaneous junk; toys of
various sorts were scattered about; against the wall was screwed a noisy
chest-weight, which nobody disturbed; near the window stood a
scrol