ustn't bother about us."

"Well, but how are you going home?"

"We shall walk. Of course have your boxing. It will do you good."

"You're right there, ma'am," said Jenkins, with a sort of stern
approval. "Mr. Leith's been neglecting his exercises lately."

"Oh, I've been doing a good deal in odd times with the Rifle Corps."

"I don't know anything about that, sir."

"All right, I'll go and change," said Dion, who always kept a singlet
and flannels at the gymnasium. "Then----" he turned to Mrs. Clarke as if
about to say good-by.

"Oh, Jimmy will want to see you for a moment after his bath. We'll say
good-by then."

"Yes, I should like to see him," said Dion, and went off to the dressing
cubicles.

When he returned ready for the fray, with his arms bared to the
shoulder, he found Jimmy, in trousers and an Eton jacket, with still
damp hair sleeked down on his head, waiting with his mother, but not to
say good-by.

"We aren't going," he announced, in a voice almost shrill with
excitement, as Dion came into the gymnasium. "The mater was all for a
trot home, but Jenkins wishes me to stay. He says it'll be a good lesson
for me. I mean to be a boxer."

"Why not?" observed the great voice of Jenkins. "It's the best sport in
the world bar none."

"There!" said Jimmy. "And if I can't be anything else I'll be a bantam,
that's what I'll be."

"Oh, you'll grow, sir, no doubt. We may see you among the heavy-weights
yet."

"What's Mr. Leith? Is he a heavy-weight?" vociferated Jimmy. "Just look
at his arms."

"You'll see him use them in a minute," observed Jenkins, covering Dion
with a glance of almost grim approval, "and then you can judge for
yourself."

"You can referee us, Jimmy," said Dion, smiling, as he pulled on the
gloves.

"I say, by Jove, though!" said Jimmy, looking suddenly overwhelmed and
very respectful.

He shook his head and blushed, then abruptly grinned.

"The mater had better do that."

They all laughed except Mrs. Clarke. Even Jenkins unbent, and his
bass "Ha ha!" rang through the large vaulted room. Mrs. Clarke smiled
faintly, scarcely changing the expression of her eyes. She looked
unusually intent and, when the smile was gone, more than usually grave.

"I hope you don't mind our staying just for a few minutes," she said to
Dion. "You see what he is!"

She looked at her boy, but not with deprecation.

"Of course not, but I'm afraid it will bore you."

"Oh no, it won't. I like to s