ond. "By-the-bye, there's a fellow
here called Rosher, isn't there? My guv'nor knows his people, and told
me to ask him out sometimes; tell him to come too, if he can."

"We can't do it," answered Valentine decisively; "while the fair's on,
Westford won't even give fellows leave to go down into town."

"Nonsense!" answered Raymond contemptuously. "You leave it to me, and
I'll manage it all right. Now I must cut back to the office. Ta! ta!"

On Wednesday afternoon the two cousins were preparing to start for the
cricket field, when a small boy brought them word that the headmaster
wished to see them for a moment in his study.

"What's the row now, I wonder?" said Jack. "'Pon my word, it's so long
since I went to the old man's study that I feel quite nervous."

The interview was not of a distressing nature. "I have received a
letter from your uncle," began Mr. Westford, "asking for you to be
allowed to go and meet him at the station this afternoon at five
o'clock. He wishes also to see Rosher, so you can tell him that he may
go. Be back, of course, in time for supper."

"I wonder what brings Uncle Fosberton to Melchester," said Valentine to
Jack as they walked away together.

"Can't say," returned the other. "I don't want to see him; but I
suppose we must go. Let's hunt up Rosher."

A few minutes before five, the three boys entered the booking-office at
the railway station.

"I wonder which platform it is!" said Jack. "Hallo! there's Raymond."

The gentleman in question came forward, flourishing his silver-mounted
cane.

"Well, my dear nephews," he cried, laughing. "How are you to-day? Did
old Westford get my letter all right?"

"What letter?" asked Valentine.

"Why, the letter asking for you to come out."

"But uncle wrote that!"

"Not a bit of it!" answered Raymond triumphantly. "I did it. I had a
bit of the manor note-paper, and I sent it to our man to post it from
Grenford. Ha! ha! I told you I'd manage the business!"

Rosher chuckled, Jack whistled, but Valentine remained silent.

"Look here, Raymond," said Valentine, after a moment's pause, "I tell
you straight, I don't believe in this sort of thing. I'm going back."

"Don't be a fool, man," retorted the other. "You can't go back now, or
they'll want to know the reason. Come along to my diggings and have
some tea, and I'll bear all the blame."

With some reluctance Valentine agreed to go with the party to his
cousin's lodgi