turned pale, but he made no attempt to deny the
accusation.

"That was one of your cowardly tricks. Another was when you ran away
after knocking that lamp over at the fair, the other day, and left
Rosher and me to get out of the bother as best we could. That was what
practically got me thrown out of the school. For two pins I'd punch
your head, you miserable tailor's dummy!"

It was hardly likely that a fashionable young man like Master Raymond
Fosberton would stand such language from a school-boy two years his
junior.

"I should like to see you!" he remarked. "Two can play at that game."

The speaker did not know the person he was addressing; in another
moment his request was granted. Jack came at him like a tiger, put all
the force of his outraged feelings into a heavy right and left, and
Raymond Fosberton disappeared with a great crash into a laurel bush.

Joe Crouch rose from his knees with a joyful exclamation, wiping his
hands on his apron. "I should have liked to have had a cut in myself,"
he afterwards remarked, "but Master Jack he managed it all splendid!"

Whatever Joseph's wishes may have been, he had no opportunity of taking
part in the proceedings; for, before the contest could be renewed,
Helen rushed across the lawn and caught Jack by the arm.

"Oh, don't fight!" she cried breathlessly. "What is the matter?"

"Ask him!" answered Jack shortly, nodding with his fists still
clenched, in the direction of Fosberton, who was in the act of emerging
from the depths of the laurel bush. "Ask him, he knows."

"He called me a liar!" answered Fosberton; "and then rushed up and hit
me when I was unprepared, the cad!"

This assertion very nearly brought on a renewal of the contest, but the
speaker knew that Helen's presence would prevent any more blows being
struck. Jack watched his adversary with a look of contempt, as the
latter wiped the blood from his cut lip.

"Yes, I said you were a liar and a coward."

"Oh, hush!" said the girl, laying her hand on her cousin's mouth.
"Don't quarrel any longer; it's dreadful here, at Brenlands! What
would Aunt Mabel say if she knew you'd been fighting? Come away, Jack,
and don't say any more."

The boy would have liked to stay behind for another private interview
with Raymond, but for Helen's sake he turned on his heel and followed
her into the house.

"All right, my boy," muttered Raymond, looking after the retreating
figures with a savage scowl on his