"Look here," said Sir Francis, suddenly taking a tack in another

direction, "you own that you beat my son--my stepson," he added

correctively, "in that way?"

"Yes, Sir Francis," I said, "I didn't know who he was in the dark."

"You couldn't see him?"

"Only just, Sir Francis; and I hit him as hard as I could."

"And you, my man, do you own that you struck my other stepson as hard as

you could in the chest?"

"No!" cried Ike fiercely; and to the surprise of all he threw off his

jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeve, displaying a great red-brown mass

of bone and muscle, and a mighty fist. "Lookye here, your worship. See

there. Why, if I'd hit that boy with that there fist as hard as ever I

could, there wouldn't be no boy now, only a coroner's inquess. Bah! I

wonder at you, Sir Francis! There's none of my marks on him, only where

I gripped his arms. Take off your jacket, youngster, and show your pa."

"How dare you!" cried Philip indignantly.

"Take off your jacket, sir!" roared Sir Francis, and trembling and

flushing, Philip did as he was told, and at a second bidding rolled up

his sleeves to show the marks of Ike's fingers plainly enough.

Ike said nothing now, but uttered a low grunt.

"He did hit me," cried Philip excitedly.

"No; I hit you," I cried, "when I rushed at you first. I followed you

after I'd heard you scramble over the wall."

"Oh!" cried Philip with an indignant look.

"You heard them scramble over the wall?" said Sir Francis sharply.

"Yes, Sir Francis. I think it was by the big keeping-pear that is

trained horizontally--that large old tree, the last in the row."

Sir Francis sat back in his chair for a few moments in silence; and

Courtenay said to his brother in a whisper, but loud enough for everyone

to hear: "Did you ever hear anyone go on like that!"

Sir Francis took no notice, but slowly rose from his seat, crossed the

room, opened the French window that looked out upon the lawn, and then

said: "Hand me a candle, Brownsmith."

The candle was placed in his hands, and he walked with it right out on

to the lawn and then held it above his head.

Then, walking back into the room, he took up another candlestick.

"Let everyone stay as he is till I come back."

"Do you mean us to stay here, papa--with these people?" said Courtenay

haughtily.

Sir Francis stopped short and looked at him sternly without speaking,

making the boy blench. Then he turned away without a word, and followed

by Mr Solomon bearing a lighted candle, which hardly flickered in the

still autumn evening, he went on down the garden.




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