"Now, boys, mind me," said Nat Hardroper to Vipan and the scout, after a substantial supper a few hours later. "This same Henniker City's a powerful survigerous place. I've got you out of one fix, but I can't go on getting you out of fixes. It's too big a contract on one man's hands, I want you to see. Now, a power of those chirruping roarers'll be on your trail first thing you show your noses out of this shebang. If I warn't sheriff this'd be my advice--to take your hosses this very night and git. But it ain't my advice, because, you see, I _am_ sheriff, and you're under my charge. No, no; it ain't my advice." Save for the faintest possible wink, he looked them straight in the face, as solemn as an owl. Vipan burst into a roar of laughter. "Right you are, Nat. It's not your advice--we'll remember that." "Well, good-night, boys; good-night." They shook hands heartily. But our two friends did not go to bed; they went to the stable. By daybreak they had put a considerable number of miles between Henniker City and themselves. CHAPTER SIXTEEN. A CONJUGAL DEBATE AND ITS SEQUEL. With all his failings, the Rev. Dudley Vallance had one redeeming point--he was excessively fond of his children; but it is probable that he loved his only son more than all the rest put together. To him he could refuse nothing. Indeed, so loth was he to part with him even for a time that he could not bring himself to allow Geoffry to enter any profession. He must remain at home. There was no need for him to earn his living, since he would one day succeed to the Lant property, and meanwhile he could be learning to look after it. Fortunately, Geoffry was something of a bookworm, and studious of temperament, or the bringing-up he had received, and the aimless life which it entailed upon him, would have sent the boy straight to the dogs. As it was, he was cut out by Nature for a college don rather than for a country squire, and during his University career he was known essentially as a reading man. It may be imagined, then, that when he returned home at the end of the summer term, after taking a brilliant double first, the pride and delight of his reverend parent knew no bounds, and by a series of festivities, unparalleled since the distinguished youth's coming of age, was Lant-Hanger at large, and particularly its "County Society," bidden to share the parental joy.