t
everybody and everything with the eyes of a colonel in the Guards. To
tell Colonel Egerton's son that one's heart was lacerated because Caesar
Desmond was playing bridge on Sunday seemed to invite jeers. And,
besides, that wasn't the real reason. John felt wretched because the
Sunday walk had been sacrificed to Moloch. Presently Egerton came
downstairs, spick and span, but not quite so smart. The boys walked
quickly, talking of cricket.

"The Demon'll get his Flannels," said Egerton. "I'm glad Lovell gave you
your cap, Jonathan; you deserved it a month ago. It wasn't my fault you
didn't get it at the beginning of the term."

"I'm sure of that," said John, gratefully.

"You don't look particularly bucked-up. A grin improves your face, my
dear fellow."

At this John burst into explosive speech. Those beasts had got hold of
Caesar. The Caterpillar stared; he had never heard John let himself go.
John's vocabulary surprised him.

"Whew-w-w!" he whistled. "Gad! Jonathan, you do pile on the agony.
Caesar's all right. Don't worry."

"He's not all right. I thought Caesar had backbone, I----"

"Hold on," said the Caterpillar, gravely.

John thought he was about to be rebuked for disloyalty to a pal, an
abominable sin in the Caterpillar's eyes.

"Well?" said John.

"I'm going to tell you something," said Egerton. "But you must swear not
to give me away."

"I'll swear."

"You're a good little cove, Jonathan, but sometimes you smell just a
little bit of--er--bread and butter. Keep cool. Personally, I would
sooner that you, at your age, did smell of bread and butter than whisky.
Well, you think that Caesar is going straight to the bow-wows because he
plays bridge. You accuse him in your own little mind of feebleness, and
so forth. Yes, just so. And it's doosid unfair to Caesar, because he's
given up his walk to-day entirely on your account. Ah! I thought that
would make you sit up."

"My account?" John repeated blankly.

"Yes; Caesar would be furious if he knew that I was peaching, but he
won't know, and instead of this--er--trifling affair weakening your good
opinion of your pal, it will strengthen it."

"Oh, do go on, Caterpillar."

"Yesterday I was in Lovell's room. We were talking of the first House
match. Scaife and Caesar were there. I took it upon myself to say you
ought to be given your 'cap'; and then Caesar burst out, 'Oh yes, Lovell,
do give him his "cap." If you knew how he'd slaved to earn it.' Bu