"But to wear it next your skin," went on Hall, not giving in. Giving in on the matter of graven images was not in her nature. Or on any matter as far as that went, that concerned us boys. "I've heard of poor misdeluded people putting horse-hair next 'em. And fine torment it must be!" "I have worn it since mamma died," quietly answered Van Rheyn, who did not seem to understand Hall's zeal. "She kept it for me always in her little shell-box that had the silver crest on it; but when she died, I said I would put the cross round my neck, for fear of losing it: and Aunt Claribelle, who took the shell-box then, bought me the blue ribbon." "That blue ribbon's new--or almost new--if ever I saw new ribbon," cried Hall, who was in a mood to dispute every word. "Oh yes. It was new when I left Rouen. I have another piece in my trunk to put on when this shall wear out." "Well, it's a horrid heathenish thing to do, Master Van Rheyn; and, though it may be gold, I don't believe Miss Emma Aberleigh would ever have gave countenance to it. Leastways before she lived among them foreign French folks," added Hall, virtually dropping the contest, as Van Rheyn slipped the cross out of view within his night-shirt. "What she might have come to, after she went off there, Heaven alone knows. Be you going to drink this tea, sir, or be you not?" Van Rheyn drank the tea and thanked her for bringing it, his gratitude shining also out of his nice grey eyes. Hall took back the cup and tucked him up again, telling him to get a bit more sleep and he would be all right in the morning. With all her prejudices and sourness, she was as good as gold when any of us were ill. * * * * * "Not bathe! Not bathe! I say, you fellows, here's a lark. Bristles thinks he'd better not try the water." It was a terribly hot evening, close upon sunset. Finding ourselves, some half-dozen of us, near the river, Van Rheyn being one, the water looked too pleasant not to be plunged into. The rule at Dr. Frost's was, that no boy should be compelled to bathe against his inclination: Van Rheyn was the only one who had availed himself of it. It was Parker who spoke: we were all undressing quickly. "What's your objection, Miss Charlotte? Girls bathe." "They would never let me go into cold water at home," was the patient answer. "We take warm baths there." "Afraid of cold water? well I never! What an everlasting pussy-cat you are, Miss Charlotte! We've heard that pussies don't like to wet their feet." "Our doctor at Rouen used to say I must not plunge into cold water," said poor Van Rheyn, speaking patiently as usual, though he must have been nearly driven wild. "The shock would not be good for me." "I say, who'll write off to Evesham for a pair of waterproofs to put over his shoes? Just give us the measure of your foot, Miss Charlotte?" "Let's shut him up in a feather-bed!"