"I wish you weren't going," she said, sitting up and leaning against him as she was accustomed to lean against Ninian. "It's been great fun this Easter!" Ninian caught hold of her hair and pulled it. "He isn't a bad chap, old Quinny," he said. "Soft-hearted, a bit!" "Shut up, Ninian!" Henry shouted, punching him in the ribs. But Ninian would not shut up. "Blubs like anything if you kill a rabbit or anything. He eats them all the same!" Mary put her hands over Ninian's mouth. "Leave Quinny alone, Ninian," she said. "He's much nicer than you, and I do think it's horrid of you to go gutting fish just for fun. The fishermen have to do it, else we wouldn't get any breakfast, and of course plaice are very nice for breakfast...." "Yahhh!" yelled Ninian. "Well, anyhow," she continued, "Quinny's much nicer than you are. Aren't you, Quinny?" "No, he isn't," Ninian asserted stoutly. "I'm ten times nicer than he is!" "No, you're not...." Henry, embarrassed at first by Mary's admiration, plucked up his spirits and joined in. "Of course, I'm nicer than you are, Ninian," he said. "Anybody could see that with half an eye in his head!" "All right, then, I'll fight you for it," Ninian replied, squaring up at him in mock rage. "I'll box your ears for you, Ninian Graham!" said Mary, "and I won't let Quinny fight you, and Quinny, if you dare to fight him, I shan't like you any more...." "Then I won't fight him, Mary. She's saved your life, Ninian," he said, turning to his friend. "Yahhh!" Ninian shouted. "I'll get up very early to-morrow morning," said Mary, as she prepared to leave them, "and perhaps mother'll let me drive to Whitcombe with you to see you off!" "No," Ninian objected, "we don't want you blubbing all over the platform!..." "I shan't blub, Ninian. I never blub!..." "Yes, you do. You always blub. You blubbed the last time and made me feel an awful ass!" he persisted. "Well, I shan't blub this time, or if I do, it won't be about you.... Anyhow, I shall get up early and see Quinny off. I _like_ Quinny!..." Ninian pointed at Henry, and burst out laughing. "Oh! Oh, he's blushing! Look at him! Oh! Oh!!" "Shut up, Ninian, you ass!" said Henry, turning away. Mary went over to him and took hold of his arm. "Never mind, Quinny," she said, "I _do_ like you. Good-night!" Then she went out and left him alone with Ninian. "I suppose," said Ninian when she had gone, "we ought to go down and say something to the Vicar!" 2 That night, Henry went to bed in the knowledge that he loved Mary Graham. "I'll marry her," he said, as he stripped his clothes off. "That's what I'll do. I'll jolly well marry her!"