Page:Hornung - Fathers of Men.djvu/70

 ornamental tower, and no tree higher than the first-floor windows.

"That's a nicer place," said Jan, with a sigh.

"I daresay," Evan acquiesced, with cold complacency.

"There's nothing like that in Norfolk," continued Jan, with perfect truth. "Do you remember the first time you took me up to the tower?"

"I can't say I do."

"What! not when we climbed out on the roof?"

"I've climbed out on the roof so often."

"And there's our cottage chimney; and just through that gate we used to play 'snob'!"

Evan did not answer. He had looked at his watch, and was taking down some books. The hint was not to be ignored.

"Well, I only came to say it wasn't my fault," said Jan. "I never knew they were going to send me to the same school as you, or they'd have had a job to get me to come."

"Why?" asked Evan, more stiffly than he had spoken yet. "I shan't interfere with you."

"I'm sure you won't!" cried Jan, with the bitterness which had been steadily gathering in his heart.

"Then what's the matter with you? Do you think I'm going to tell the whole school all about you?"

Jan felt that he was somehow being put in the wrong; and assisted in the process by suddenly becoming his most sullen self.

"I don't know," he answered, hanging his head.

"You don't know! Do you think I'd think of such a thing?"

"I think a good many would."

"You think I would?"

"I don't say that."