nd in spite
of every probability, that Ratman is your brother."

"He is just the age my brother would have been now."

"So is George the coachman, so am I, so are half a dozen men in the
village."

"He certainly has some resemblance to the portrait."

"I could find you a score more like it in London."

"The long and short of it is, Armstrong, I cannot look to you to back me
up in this."

"To make Robert Ratman into Roger Ingleton?--I fear not. To back you up
in all else, and be at your call whether you think well or ill of me--
certainly."

They parted angrily, though without a quarrel. Mr Armstrong had rarely
felt himself so put out, and crashed away ruthlessly at his piano all
the morning.

Roger, perhaps conscious that logic was not on his side, whatever
instinct and feeling might be, retired disappointed and miserable to the
park, and never remembered his appointment with the eager Tom.

At lunch-time he said to Captain Oliphant--

"When did you think of going to town?"

"At the end of the week, my boy. What do you say to coming?"

"Yes--I'll come."

The Captain darted a triumphant glance in the direction of the tutor.
But the tutor was investigating the contents of a game pie in the
endeavour to discover a piece of egg for Miss Jill.

After a pause that young lady took up her discourse.

"If father and Roger go to town, Tom, we shall have dear Mr Armstrong
all to ourselves."

"Hooroo!" said Tom; "that is, if it's holidays."

"I am thinking of going to Oxford next week," said the tutor,
elaborately folding up his napkin, addressing his co-trustee. "Have you
any message I can give to any of your acquaintances there?"

"I think it would be a pity for you to leave Maxfield just now. One of
us should remain."

"Yes, do stay. We'll have such larks," said Tom. "We'll get Rosalind
to come and stay, and then we shall be able to play regular matches,
ladies against gentlemen, you know."

"No. Mr Armstrong and I will stand Rosalind and you," suggested Jill.

Even these allurements failed.

"I shall make my visit as short as possible. I have, as you know, a few
creditors in Oxford on whom I am anxious to call. Let me give you a
little cheese, Roger."

That evening when, as usual, the tutor looked in to say good night to
his ward, Roger said rather gloomily--

"I suppose you object to my going to London?"

"On the contrary, I rather envy you."

"Of course you understand I am going up