Mike

dship, more particularly when the departing hero has a brother on the verge of the school eleven and three other brothers playing for counties; and Mike seemed in no way disturbed by the pro

our on his way to Scotland, in time to come down with a handsome tip). To their coarse-fibred minds there was nothing pathetic or tragic about the affair at all. (At the very moment when the train began to glide out of the station Uncle John was heard to remark that, in his opinion, these Bocks weren't a patch on the old shap

asn't sure these Bocks weren't half a bad smoke after all. Gladys Maud cried, because she had taken

her down the line, was to board the train at East Wobsley, and the brothers were to make a state entry i

Donaldson's. He wondered if Bob would get his first eleven cap this year, and if he himself were likely to do anything at cricket. Marjory had faithfully reported every word Saunders had said on the subject, but Bob had been so careful to point out his insignificance when compared with the humblest Wrykynian that the professional's glowing prophecies had not had much effect. It might be

nt was standing a boy of about Mike's size, though evidently some years older. He had a sharp face, with rather a prom

her after the fashion of a naturalist examining some new and unpleasant variety of beetle. H

porter?" Mike

mming down the plat

rte

ir

tful boxes of mi

s,

e'll be a frightful row

ce of th

ou are,

k you

ondered if he wanted anything; but he did not feel equal to offering him one of his magazines. He did not like the looks of him parti

stop got out. That explained his magazineless

mself. He had all the Englishman

on when his eye was suddenly caught by the

Mike acted from the best mo

what had happened. The fel

ight to his own property. Besides, he might have been quite a nice fellow when you got to know him. Anyhow, the bag had bet

ed to be in the line of fire, escaped with a flesh wound.) Then he sat down again with the inwa

tly, for the train had scarcely come to a standstill when the opening above the door was darkened by a

stranger. "Have you cha

said

, where's my f

rrassing situations.

said Mike, "I c

ut! what do y

last s

stle, and the other ju

here for good," explained

is th

t the last station

ke grinned at the recollection. The look on Porter Robinson's face as the bag

sapproved of this lev

augh at. You go chucking bags that don't belong to you out of the

riedly. "Only the porter looked

t out for half a second to buy a magazine without your flinging m

topped once again; and, looking out of the window, Mike saw a board with East Wo

re you are,

l upon Mike

w my brother? He's coming to Wrykyn this term. By the way, rather luc

and the same person. He grinned again. Firby-Smit

u in Wain's

ike, "I've made rath

ural

portmanteau out of the window, thinking he'd got out, o

en't you? Had it got your nam

es

turn up some time. They'll send it on by the next tr

ll the same. Lots of t

at have you been doing in the holidays? I

ersation which were entirely new to him. He realised that school politics were being talked, and that contributions from him to the dialogue were not required. He took up his magazine again, listening th

have to be together, holidays as well as term. Pretty bad having a step-father at all--I shouldn

," agreed

t term that Wain had got a nomination for him in some beastly bank, and that he was going into it directly after the end of this term. Rather rough on

f the window. It