“No, he don’t care for heraldry, more’s the pity,” said Phil. “I can’t get him to take any interest. It’s in other ways he’s so jolly. I say, I’ve made up a coat for us, out of my own head. Listen! First and fourth, an ellwand argent; second and third, three shawls proper--But you don’t understand, no more than Earnshaw does. I showed it to the mother, and she boxed my ears.” “Serve you right, you little beggar. I say, Phil, what is there to do in this old place? I’m very fond of Tottenham’s in a general way, but I never was here in winter before. What are you up to, little ’un? There’s the hounds on Thursday, I know; but Thursday’s a long way off. What have you got for a fellow to do, to-day?” “Come up to the gamekeeper’s and see the puppies,” said Phil; “it’s through the woods all the way. Earnshaw went with me the other day. They’re such jolly little mites; and if you don’t mind luncheon very much, we can take a long stretch on to the pond at Hampton, and see how it looks. It’s shallower than our pond here.” “I don’t care for a muddy walk, thanks,” said Harry, contemplating his boots, “and I do mind luncheon. Come along, and I’ll teach you billiards, Phil. I suppose there’s a billiard table somewhere about.” “Teach me!” cried Phil, with a great many notes of admiration; “why, I can beat Earnshaw all to sticks!” “If you mention his name again for an hour, I’ll punch your head,” cried Harry, and strolled off dreamily to the billiard-room, Phil following with critical looks. The boy liked his cousin, but at the same time he liked to have his say, and did not choose to be snubbed. “What a thing it is to have nothing to do!” he said, sententiously. “How often do you yawn of a morning, Harry? We’re not allowed to do that. Earnshaw--” “You little beggar! didn’t I promise to punch your head?” cried Harry; and they had an amiable struggle at the door of the billiard-room, by which Phil’s satirical tendencies were checked for the moment. “Ain’t you strong, just!” Phil said, after this trial, with additional respect. But notwithstanding the attractions of the billiard-table, Harry, yawning, stalked into luncheon with an agreeable sense of variety. “When you have nothing else to do, eat,” he said, displaying his wisdom in turn, for the edification of Phil. “That’s a great idea; I learned it at Oxford where it’s very useful.” “And not very much else, acknowledge, Harry,” said Lady Mary. “Well, as much as I was wanted to learn. You are very hard upon a fellow, Aunt Mary. John, I allow, was intended to do some good; but me, no one expected anything from me--and why should a fellow bother his brains when he hasn’t got any, and doesn’t care, and nobody cares for him? That’s what I call unreasonable. I suppose you’ll keep poor Phil at high pressure, till something happens. It ain’t right to work the brain too much at his age.”