r Conquerors,
should prevent his chestnut reaching four figures. He knew that next
autumn term, if all fell out as planned, he would be at St. James'
School itself, where Conquerors and tops and marbles were never even
mentioned, save as vanities and toys of early youth. However, he swapped
the nine hundred and sixty-sixer for seven white mice and a slow-worm in
spirits of wine belonging to Norton; and he had the satisfaction of
hearing later on that after a year in rejuvenating oil the nine hundred
and sixty-sixer became a two thousand and thirty-threer before it fell
down a drain, undefeated.

After Christmas Nancy Carthew came up from Hampshire to spend a
fortnight at Carlington Road, and the holidays were spent in a fever of
theatres and monuments and abbeys. Michael asked Nancy what she thought
of Stella and her affectation, and was surprized by Nancy saying she
thought Stella was an awfully jolly kid and 'no end good' at the piano.
Michael in consideration of Nancy's encomium tried to take a fresh view
of Stella and was able sincerely to admit that, compared with many other
little girls of the neighbourhood, Stella was fairly pretty. He decided
that it would be a good thing for Norton to marry her. He told Norton
that there seemed no reason why he and Stella should not come together
in affection, and Norton said that, if Michael thought he should, he was
perfectly willing to marry Stella, when he was grown up. Michael
thereupon swapped a box of somewhat bent dragoons for a ring, and
presented this ring to Norton with the injunction that he should on no
account tell Stella that he was engaged to her, in case it made her
cocky. He also forbade Norton to kiss her (not that he supposed Norton
wanted to kiss Stella), because Miss Carthew would be annoyed and might
possibly close the area door to Norton for the future.

When Nancy went back to Hampshire, Michael felt lonely. The Macalisters
and the Nortons had gone away on visits, and Carlington Road was dreary
without them. Michael read a great deal and by reason of being at home
he gradually became less grubby, as the holidays wore on. Also his hair
grew long and waved over his forehead with golden lights and shadows and
curled in bunches by his ears. A new Eton suit well became him, and his
mother said how charming he looked. Michael deplored good looks in boys,
but he managed to endure the possession of them during the little space
that remained before the Lent ter