reat friend of him over the water."

"How came you to get acquainted with him first?"

"You wait, and you'll know."

"Don't tell me without you like; but he's a dangerous friend, and I'm
very glad you've given up seeing him."

"Are you?" said Andrew, with a curious smile. "Why, I've seen him again
and again."

"You have!" cried Frank, in astonishment. "When?"

"Oh, at different times. Last evening, for instance, in the Park, while
you were with your mother. He came to feed the ducks."

"You won't be happy till you are sent away in disgrace."

"That's very true, Franky; but I don't think I shall feel the disgrace.
What would you say, too, if I told you that I have been three times to
the city?"

"Impossible!"

"Oh no; these things are not impossible to one who wants to do them."

"Oh, Drew, Drew!" cried Frank.

"There, don't you pity me. You are the one to be pitied."

"I say, hadn't we better talk about something else?"

"Yes. Has Lady Gowan heard from Sir Robert?"

Frank shook his head gloomily.

"What, not written yet?"

"No."

"Then they're stopping his letters!" cried Andrew.

Frank started violently.

"That's it. Just the mean thing that these people would do. I'm sure
your father would not have let all this time pass without sending news."

"Oh, they would not do that!" cried Frank. "He is waiting till he is
settled down, and then we shall go and join him."

"You will not," said Andrew. "They'll keep you both here, as you'll
see. But, I say, hadn't we better talk about something else?"

"If you like," said Frank coldly.

"Well, then, I haven't heard, for I haven't seen Captain Murray or the
doctor. What news have you heard of Steinberg?"

"He's getting better, and going home to Hanover as soon as he can bear
to travel."

"That's good news," cried Andrew. "I wish he'd take the King and his
court with him."

Frank gave him an angry look, then a sharp glance round to see if his
companion's words had been heard, and the latter burst out laughing.

"Poor old Frank!" he said merrily. "There, I won't tease you by saying
all these disloyal things. But, I say, your acts give the lie to your
words. You're as true to us as steel. Come, don't be cross."

This sort of skirmishing went on often enough, for the two lads were
always at work trying to undermine each other's principles; but they
dropped into the habit of leaving off at the right time, so as to avoid
quarrelling