. He must have had a very high opinion of him to associate
him with Mrs Ingleton and me in the guardianship. I take it, by the
way, that hardly extends beyond his present duties as tutor."

"That's just it," said Mr Pottinger. "According to the will, he has
the right to participate in every action taken by the other trustees,
either as regards the boy, or the estate, or anything else."

"How very singular! You don't mean to say that he is to be consulted in
matters of finance or the management of the property?"

"Technically, yes--if he claims it. I imagine, however, he is hardly
aware of this, and I am not inclined to urge him to claim it. I should
be sorry to give you an unfavourable impression, Captain Oliphant, but I
do not like this Mr Armstrong."

"He appears to be well thought of at Maxfield," said the Captain.

"My private opinion is--but you must not let it influence you--that he
is somewhat of an adventurer. I know nothing of his antecedents."

"Indeed! not even where he lives?"

"No; the Squire was reticent on the matter. He told me he had good
recommendations with him, and that he was an Oxford man."

"Surely that should be satisfactory. I hope we shall find him not
difficult to get on with, after all. We shall have to wait a week or
so, however, before putting the question to the test, as he has just
gone off rather abruptly, and at this particular time rather
inopportunely, on a journey, for what object I do not know."

"Humph!" said the attorney. "I do not like mysteries. However, I trust
it will be as you say."

Dr Brandram, when presently the Captain called in for his ward, was in
by no means a good temper.

"I have been blowing Roger up sky-high," said he, puffing his smoke
rather viciously in the Captain's direction, "for behaving like a
lunatic. The idea of his coming out and getting himself wet through
with this cold upon him."

"Dear, dear!" said the Captain; "has he got wet through? Why, my dear
boy, what did I tell you?"

"You shouldn't have let him come," said the doctor bluntly. "He's no
business to play tricks with himself."

"Really, doctor," said Roger, laughing and coughing alternately, "I'm
not a baby."

"You're worse," said the doctor severely. "Don't let it happen again.
You must go home in a fly; I won't allow you to walk. Armstrong
wouldn't have let you do it."

It grated on the Captain's nerves to hear the tutor thus quoted in what
seemed to be a r