irls--well they seem harmless enough. How do you like Tom?"

"Tom's a nice, quiet, business-like boy," said the tutor with a grin.
"I'll tell you more about him soon, but at present I have no time. I
must catch the four o'clock train back to London."

"What! What ever for?" exclaimed Roger, with falling face.

"Urgent private affairs. I shall be away perhaps a week," said Mr
Armstrong shortly, in a tone which discouraged Roger from making further
inquiries.

"I'm awfully sorry," said he; "I shall miss you specially just now."

"If I could have taken any other time, I would," said the tutor, busily
throwing his things into his bag all the time; "but I am going to a
death-bed."

"Oh, Armstrong, I'm so sorry. Is it a relation?"

"As I regard relations, yes. Now I must go and make my apologies to
your mother. I'll come and see you before I go."

He found the lady sitting in the library in consultation with Captain
Oliphant. The table was spread with the late Squire's papers and
documents, concerning which the Captain was evincing considerable
interest.

The tutor glared a little through his glass at the spectacle of this
industry, and disposing of his co-trustee's greeting with a half nod,
accosted Mrs Ingleton.

"I must ask you to excuse me for a few days, Mrs Ingleton. I have just
received news which render a journey necessary."

"Indeed!" said Captain Oliphant, looking up from his papers. "I am
afraid, Mr Armstrong, we must ask you to postpone it, as there are a
good many business matters of importance to be gone into, which will
require the attention of all the trustees. It is an inconvenient time
to seek for leave of absence."

The tutor's mouth stiffened ominously.

"You take unnecessary interest in my affairs, sir. I shall be at your
service on my return. Mrs Ingleton, I am sorry for this interruption
in Roger's studies. It shall be as brief as I can make it."

"Oh, of course, Mr Armstrong," said the lady, "I hope it is nothing
serious. We shall be glad to have you back to consult about things;
that is all Captain Oliphant means, I'm sure."

The tutor bowed.

"I really hope," said Captain Oliphant blandly, "Mr Armstrong will
appreciate my desire to cooperate harmoniously in the sacred trust laid
upon us all by the dying wish of our dear friend."

"I have no wish to do anything else, sir," said the tutor shortly, "if
you will allow me. Good-bye, Mrs Ingleton."

Roger was a good d