for, as the smarting
and pain went off, we could not help feeling proud and satisfied. The
boys had all turned wonderfully friendly, and I was evidently a great
authority. In fact, I had completely succeeded to Burr major's throne
in the boys' estimation, while he went about the place almost alone,
Hodson being the only fellow who tried to associate with him.

As for the Doctor, he never alluded to the encounter again.

The week, then, had passed, and Mercer and I had nearly grown
respectable again, when one night, as we were going to bed, my companion
turned to me.

"I say," he whispered, "let's get up early to-morrow morning, and go and
see old Lom."

I shook my head.

"I've had lessons enough in boxing," I said; "I don't want to fight any
more."

"I didn't mean a lesson," said Mercer. "I want to go and tell him all
about how we got on."

I agreed that I should like to do that; and I awoke at sunrise, roused
Mercer, and, leaving the other boys sleeping, we started for the lodge.

"Oh, I say, what a lovely morning!" cried Mercer. "Look at the dew on
the leaves; it's all colours like a rainbow. When are we going fishing
again? and I want some birds to stuff; and to go rabbiting, and
collecting, and all sorts, and we seem to have done nothing lately."

"Hallo, Magglin!" I cried, as we turned a corner, and came suddenly
upon that individual, looking as if he had just come from the big yard.

"Why, what are you doing here?" said Mercer.

"No sir; on'y wish I was. Just came up to see if the gardener's about,
and he'd give me a job."

"You know he wouldn't," I said. "The Doctor will not have you about the
place again."

"And it's very hard," he whined. "Everybody's agen me, and takes
'vantage of me, even young gents as owes me money and won't pay."

"Why, who owes you money, Magg?"

"You do, sir; four shillin', which I wouldn't ask you for, but--"

"I don't, Magg; I paid you everything I owed you," cried Mercer.

"Oh no, sir; don't you go for to say that which you know aren't true.
It's four shillin', and I wouldn't have asked you, only I'm that hungry
as never was."

"But I don't owe you anything; do I, Frank?"

"No; he paid you," I said.

"Oh, sir! Master Burr junior knows as it's wicked to tell a lie. I
likes mates to stick up for one another, but it ain't right to get a
trampling down of the pore. Do pay me, Master Tom Mercer. It's four
shillin'."

"I don't owe you a penny, Magg;