o be thankful it did not drop on one of the children, or on
your own head. It would have knocked all the texts out of it for some
time to come."

Mr. Gresley did not look very grateful as he led the way to his study.

"I was lunching with the Bishop to-day," said Dick, "and Dr. Brown was
there. He told us about the trouble here. He said the little chap Regie
was going on like a house on fire. The Bishop told me to ask after him
particularly."

"He is wonderfully better every day," said Mr. Gresley, softening. "How
kind of the Bishop to send you to inquire. Not having children himself,
I should never have thought--"

"No," said Dick, "you wouldn't. Do you remember when we were at Cheam,
and Ogilvy's marked sovereign was found in the pocket of my flannel
trousers. You were the only one of the boys, you and that sneak Field,
who was not sure I might not have taken it. You said it looked awfully
bad, and so it did."

"No one was gladder than I was when it was cleared up," said Mr.
Gresley.

"No," said Dick; "but we don't care much what any one thinks when it's
cleared up. It's before that matters. Is Hester in? I've two notes for
her. One from Brown, and one from the Bishop, and my orders are to take
her back with me. That is why the Bishop sent the carriage."

"I am afraid Hester will hardly care to leave us at present," said Mr.
Gresley. "My wife is on her sofa, and Regie is still very weak. He has
taken one of those unaccountable fancies of children for her, and can
hardly bear her out of his sight."

"The Bishop has taken another of those unaccountable fancies for her,"
said Dick, looking full at Mr. Gresley in an unpleasant manner. "I'm not
one that holds that parsons should have their own way in everything.
I've seen too much of missionaries. I just shove out curates and vicars
and all that small fry if they get in my way. But when they break out in
buttons and gaiters, by Jove! I knock under to them--at least, I do to
men like the Bishop. He knows a thing or two. He has told me not to come
back without Hester, and I'm not going to. Ah! there she is in the
garden." Dick's large back had been turned towards the window, but he
had seen the reflection of a passing figure in the glass of a framed
testimonial which occupied a prominent place on the study wall, and he
at once marched out into the garden and presented the letters to Hester.

Hester was bewildered at the thought of leaving Warpington, into which
sh