“All right, father.  I’ll postpone my fun till he is out of the way.  You’ll go with him, won’t you?”

“Yes, Guy.”

“Just tell old Smith how to treat him.  Tell him to show him no mercy, if he doesn’t behave himself.”

“You seem to dislike Hector very much.  You shouldn’t feel so.  It isn’t Christian.”

Guy looked at his father queerly out of the corner of his eye.  He understood him better than Allan Roscoe supposed.

“I hope you won’t insist on my loving him, father,” he said.  “I leave that to you.”

“I only wish you to avoid coming into collision with him.  As for love, that is something not within our power.”

“Will you be ready to go with me to boarding school on Monday morning, Hector?” asked Allan Roscoe, on Saturday afternoon.

“Yes, sir.”

Indeed, Hector felt that it would be a relief to get away from the house which he had been taught to look upon as his—­first by right of inheritance, and later as actual owner.  As long as he remained he was unpleasantly reminded of the great loss he had experienced.  Again, his relations with Guy were unfriendly, and he knew that if they were permanently together it wouldn’t be long before there would be another collision.  Though in such a case he was sure to come off victorious, he did not care to contend, especially as no advantage could come of it in the end.

Of the boarding school kept by Mr. Socrates Smith he had never heard, but felt that he would, at any rate, prefer to find himself amid new scenes.  If the school were a good one, he meant to derive benefit from it, for he was fond of books and study, and thought school duties no task.

“I have carefully selected a school for you,” continued Allan Roscoe, “because I wish to follow out my poor brother’s wishes to the letter.  A good education will fit you to maintain yourself, and attain a creditable station in life, which is very important, since you will have to carve your own future.”

There was no objection to make to all this.  Still, it did grate upon Hector’s feelings, to be so often reminded of his penniless position, when till recently he had regarded himself, and had been regarded by others, as a boy of large property.

Smithville was accessible by railroad, being on the same line as the town of Plympton in which Roscoe Castle was situated.  There was a train starting at seven o’dock, which reached Smithville at half-past, eight.  This was felt to be the proper train to take, as it would enable Hector to reach school before the morning session began.  Allan Roscoe, who was not an early riser, made an effort to rise in time, and succeeded.  In truth, he was anxious to get Hector out of the house.  It might be that the boy’s presence was a tacit reproach, it might be that he had contracted a dislike for him.  At any rate, when Hector descended to the breakfast room, he found Mr. Roscoe already there.