n, and inviting the two boys to spend their half-holiday with
her in Melchester. This significant remark of Mr. Copland's meant that
Jack would be prevented from going. Valentine felt that he was
indirectly the cause of the misfortune, and his wayward relative seemed
inclined to view the matter in the same light.

"I say," he exclaimed, "you were a sneak to tell Copland it was I who
was flashing that looking-glass."

"I couldn't help it," answered Valentine. "He told me to look out and
see who was there."

"Well, why didn't you say the fellow had run away, or something of that
sort?"

"Because it would have been a lie."

"Pooh! telling a cram like that to a master doesn't count. You are a
muff, Valentine," and the speaker turned on his heel with a
contemptuous shrug of his shoulders.

The little fat pony, the low basket-carriage, Jakes the gardener
driving, and last and best of all Queen Mab herself, arrived at the
time appointed; but only one of her nephews was waiting at the
rendezvous.

"Why, where's Jack?"

"He got into a scrape this morning, and is kept in. What's more, he
says it's my fault, and we've had a row about it. I don't think we
ever shall be friends, aunt."

"Oh, you mustn't say that. In a fortnight's time we shall all be at
Brenlands together, and then we must try to rub some of the sharp
corners off this perverse young gentleman. I must come back with you
to the school and try to see him before I drive home."

In the quiet retirement of Mr. Copland's classroom, Jack was writing
lines when a messenger came to inform him that some one wished to see
him in the visitors' room.

"Bother it! Aunt Mabel," he said to himself. "I suppose I must go,"
he added, swishing the ink from his pen and throwing it down on the
desk. "What a bore relations are! I wish they'd let me alone."

From their one brief meeting years before, neither aunt nor nephew
would have recognized each other now had they met in the streets, and
so this was like making a fresh acquaintance. Jack had heard only one
half of a very lopsided story, and though he took no interest in the
family disagreement, yet he was inclined to be suspicious of his
grown-up relations. He marched down the passage, jingling his keys
with an air of defiance; but when he entered the visitors' room, and
saw the bright smile with which his aunt greeted his appearance, he
dropped the swagger and became stolidly polite. She, for her part, h