"Oh, but I'm not going to," he replied; "I'll be as quiet as can be, and let old Eely say and do what he likes for the present. I feel as if I can bear it now. Don't you? There, come along up into the loft, and let's see if we can find our ferret. It does seem hard to lose that directly. Just, too, as one finds one has been cheated by old Magglin.

I wish he'd sell that gun. I say, I'll make him show it to you. It is such a handy little thing."

I felt that it would be very interesting to go out, as Mercer proposed, shooting specimens, which he would afterwards show me how to skin and preserve; but I could not help thinking that it would take a rather large supply of pocket-money to pay for all the things my companion wanted, especially if his wants included guns and watches.

We went right up to the loft, and a search was made, and the floor stamped upon, and the boards tapped. But there was no sign of the ferret, and we gave up the search at last in despair, as it was rapidly approaching the time when the bell would ring for breakfast, and we had our lessons to look up ready for Mr Hasnip, who now had us, as he called it, thoroughly in hand.

We both smiled and looked at one another as we crossed the yard, for Burr major and d.i.c.ksee had come past together, the latter listening attentively to his companion's words.

"Oh, I say, Burr, if they only knew!" whispered Mercer, with a chuckle.

"They little think that we've been--Oh, I say, look; he's taking out his watch to see if it's right by the big clock. Frank, I say: I do wish I had a watch like that!"

I looked at him wonderingly once more, for that watch had completely fascinated him, and till breakfast-time he could talk of nothing else.

"Think your uncle would give you a watch if you asked him?" he said.

"I shouldn't like to ask him, because--well, I'm rather afraid of him."

"What, isn't he kind to you?"

"Yes, I think so," I said; "but he's a severe-looking sort of man, and very particular, and I don't think he'd consider it right for me to have a watch while I am at school."

"That's what my father said when I was home for last holidays. I wanted a watch then, but not half so bad as I feel to want one now. I say!"

"Well?"

"I wonder how much old Eely's father gave for that one. I don't think it could have cost a very great deal."

I shook my head, for I had not the least idea, and then I found myself watching Burr major, who was still comparing his watch with the great clock.

"I won't think about it any more," said Mercer suddenly.

"Think of what?" I said wonderingly.

"That watch. It worries me. I was dreaming about it all last night, and wishing that I'd got it somehow, and that it was mine. And it isn't, and never can be, can it?"

"No," I said, and we walked into the big room, for the breakfast-bell began to ring, and very welcome it sounded to us, after being up so early, and indulging in such violent exercise.

"Here comes Eely," whispered Mercer, "and old d.i.c.ksee too. I say: that punch with the left! Oh my!"

CHAPTER TWELVE.

Those were busy times at Meade Place, for Mr Hasnip worked me hard; Mr Rebble hara.s.sed me a little whenever he had a chance; and every now and then the Doctor made a sudden unexpected attack upon me with questions uttered in the severest of tones.

All this meant long hours of what the masters called "private study" and the boys "private worry;" while in addition there were the lessons we inflicted upon ourselves, for we never once failed of being at the lodge by five o'clock on those summer mornings, to be scolded, punched, and generally knocked about by our instructor.

Join to these, other lessons in the art of skinning and preserving birds, given by Mercer up in the loft; compulsory games at cricket, as they were called, but which were really hours of toil, fielding for Burr major, Hodson, and d.i.c.ksee; sundry expeditions after specimens, visits to Bob Hopley, bathing, fishing, and excursions and incursions generally, and it will be seen that neither Mercer nor I had much spare time.

A busy life is after all the happiest, and, though my lessons often worried and puzzled me, I was perfectly content, and my friendly relations with Mercer rapidly grew more firm.

"I say," he cried one morning, after Lomax had grumbled at us a little less than usual respecting our execution of several of the bits of guarding and hitting he put us through--"I say, don't you think we are perfect yet?"

The serjeant opened his eyes wide, and then burst into a hearty laugh.

"Well," he said, "you will grow into a man some day, and when you do, I daresay you will be a bit modest, for of all the c.o.c.ksparrowy chaps I ever did meet, you are about the most impudent."

"Thank-ye," said Mercer, and he went off in dudgeon, while Lomax gave me a comical look.

"That's the way to talk to him," he said. "If you don't, he'll grow up so conceited he'll want extra b.u.t.tons on his jacket to keep him from swelling out too much."

"Now, Burr, are you coming?" shouted Mercer.

"Yes. Good morning," I said to Lomax, and I hurried out.

"I thought we should have learned long before this," said my companion, as we strolled leisurely back. "I don't seem to get on a bit further, and I certainly don't feel as if I could fight. Do you?"

"No," I said frankly.

"You see, it wants testing or proving, same as you do a sum. Shall we have a fall out with them and try?"

"No," I cried excitedly. "That wouldn't do. They might lick us. We ought to try with some one else first."

"But who is there? If we had a fight with some other boys, Eely and d.i.c.ksee would know, and we should have no chance to fight them then. I know. Let you and I fall out and have a set to."

I whistled, and put my hands in my pockets.

"Wouldn't that do?" he said.

"No, not at all. It wouldn't be real, and--"

"Hold your tongue. Here's Magglin."

"Morning, young gents," said the man coming up in his nasty, watchful, furtive way, looking first behind him, and then dodging to right and left to look behind us, to see if any one was coming.

"Morning.--Hi! look out! Keeper!" cried Mercer.

"Eh? Where? where?" whispered Magglin huskily.

"Down in the woods," cried Mercer laughingly. "Look at him, Burr; he has been up to some games, or he wouldn't be so frightened."

"Get out!" growled the gipsy-looking fellow sourly. "Doctor don't teach you to behave like that, I know."

"Nor the gardener don't teach you to try and cheat people with ferrets."

"Well, I like that," cried Magglin in an ill-used tone. "I sells you for a mate of mine--"

"No, you didn't, it was for yourself, Magg."