e. They never
kissed each other in the day-time, or walked arm in arm, or sat very
near together.

To Jeff these things had become natural, and his spontaneous,
affectionate nature seemed suddenly frozen up by circumstances. The
dull ache of longing for kindly, smiling eyes, for little playful
speeches, at times seemed more than he could bear.

And to him who had lived in the constant presence of his mother the
many restrictions laid upon the children at Loch Lossie seemed cruelly
hard; and it was a discipline that seemed to have no meaning, that
seemed to presuppose disobedience.

He might not go in the drawing-room or conservatory without leave, or
look at the books in the library, or pick the commonest flowers in the
garden, or walk near the loch. No promise was ever regarded as sacred
by his seniors.

"But if I give you my word, Uncle Hugh," he had pleaded in early days,
"not to go near the water, or touch the boats, surely I may go down the
drive."

Uncle Hugh only looked down on him with cold denial.

"Little boys are not to be trusted; their promises are not worth much,"
he answered.

Then Jeff got very red, and burst out passionately:

"You must have known only boys who were liars. Did you not speak the
truth yourself when you were young?"

Brian pulled at his jacket to modify his speech. Jeff wrenched it away.

"Don't touch me, Brian; I shall say what I like; and I know you don't
always speak the truth. Uncle Hugh, don't you know it is only cowards
who make false promises? Can't you trust me? No one who is
brave--really brave--or who tries to be brave--would tell a lie."

But the appeal seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Not long after this little scene the Rev. Mr. M'Gregor had reason to
complain of Jeff's negligence. He was very inattentive to instruction
and his lessons were never properly prepared.

"The boy, moreover, Mr. Colquhoun, has a tiresome habit of reasoning
with regard to actions, even my actions. This approaches disrespect.
Logic, you are aware, cannot be conveniently applied to every
circumstance of life."

"It ought to be," said rigid Mr. Colquhoun, with a certain degree of
sternness.

"I respect the boy for his fearless questionings and outspoken
sentiments, though I admit they are embarrassing at times."

"I am not sure, Mr. M'Gregor, if Geoffry does not teach us a lesson
sometimes."

Uncle Hugh called him Geoffry, much to Jeff's amusement.

Secretly Uncle Hugh d