is dear ward to himself, and the opportunity now
presented was certainly one not to be neglected.

"My dear boy," said he, as the two took their places in the London
train, "I hope you are well protected against the weather. Change seats
with me. You are so liable to cold, you know, that it is really hardly
safe for you to face the engine. We must take great care of you now--
greater than ever," and he sighed pathetically.

Roger was getting accustomed to, and a little tired of, these
demonstrative outbursts, and quietly took the seat in order to spare
discussion. He was already repenting of his journey. No one seemed to
commend it. Armstrong made no reference to it.

Dr Brandram stoutly disapproved of it. Rosalind tossed her head when
she heard of it, and hoped he might enjoy himself. Tom failed to see
why, when there was football in the air at Maxfield, any one could be
bothered to travel up to London for pleasure, unless indeed he intended
to take a season ticket for Christy's Minstrels. Altogether Roger did
not feel elated at the prospect of this visit. For all that, he
persuaded himself that duty called him thither, even if it was bad
temper which drove him from Maxfield.

"What has become of Ratman?" he inquired of his guardian casually during
the journey.

Captain Oliphant looked up from his paper sharply Mr Ratman's
whereabouts had been occupying his thoughts that very moment.

"I really do not know, my boy," said he. "He left very suddenly, and in
the sad trouble through which we have passed I have hardly had time to
think about him."

There was a pause. Then Roger said--

"Is he an old friend of yours, cousin Edward?"

Cousin Edward was a little perplexed by this curiosity.

"I have known him a year or so. The friendship, however, is chiefly on
his side."

"I thought he came all the way from India on purpose to visit you?"

The captain laughed uncomfortably at this very correct representation of
the facts.

"That is the version he likes to give. The fact is that business
brought him home, and as he knew I was at Maxfield, he wrote and
proposed the visit. He is no great favourite of yours, I suspect,
Roger?"

"No," said Roger shortly, and relapsed again into silence. But before
the journey's end he once more returned to the charge.

"Was he in the army in India?"

"Once, I believe. But I have never heard much of his antecedents.
Latterly I believe he called himself a financ